Basic Computation and Programming with C

flOW CHART

A flowchart is a type of diagram that represents an algorithm or process. The steps involved in the process are shown as boxes of various kinds. Arrows that connects the boxes depicts the correct order in which the steps should be performed. This diagrammatic representation illustrates a solution to a given problem. As a diagram is equivalent to 1000 words, flowcharts helps people working in a project to understand the problem very easily.

flowcharts are broadly classified into two categories:

• 1. Program flowchart

• 2. System flowchart.

Program flowcharts are symbolic or graphical representation of computer programs in terms of flowcharting symbols. They contain the steps of solving a problem unit for a specific result; System flowcharts, on the other hand, contain solution of many problem units together that are closely related to each other and interact with each other to achieve a goal.

In this book, concentration will be on program flowcharts as this book is mainly on a programming language. A program flowchart is an extremely useful tool in program development activity in the following respects:

• 1. Any error, omission or commission can be easily detected from a program flowchart than it can be from a program.

• 2. A program flowchart can be followed easily and quickly.

• 3. It can be referred if program modifications are needed in future.

• Follows a program flowchart to ‘find maximum among three numbers’ to give idea about the look of a program flowchart.