Business Process Expert·7 min read
Two families of symbols
Most process maps use one of two symbol sets. The first is the classic flowchart set - a handful of shapes almost everyone recognizes, ideal for quick sketches and simple sequences. The second is BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation), a formal standard with precise rules that scales to complex, cross-team processes.
You do not need to memorize everything. Learn the eight flowchart shapes below and the four BPMN building blocks, and you can read - and draw - the vast majority of process maps you will ever see. For the full standard, see What is BPMN?
Flowchart symbols
These are the everyday shapes of a process flow diagram. If you have ever drawn a process on a whiteboard, you have used most of them without knowing their formal names.
Terminator
Marks the start or end of the process. Every map begins and ends with one.
Process / Task
A single step or action - something gets done. The workhorse shape of any map.
Decision
A branch point with a question. Each exit is a labelled answer (Yes / No).
Data (input/output)
Information entering or leaving the process - a form filled, a record read.
Document
A printed or digital document produced or consumed by a step - an invoice, a report.
Delay / Wait
A period of waiting - approval pending, queue, or a scheduled pause.
Connector
An on-page jump. Use it to avoid crossing lines on a busy diagram.
Flow arrow
The line that connects shapes and shows the direction work moves.
"The single most useful shape is the decision diamond - and the single most common mistake is leaving its exits unlabelled. Always write the answer on each arrow leaving a diamond. A branch you cannot read is a branch you cannot follow."
The BPMN core
BPMN has 68 elements, but four building blocks carry most of the meaning. Learn these and you can read a professional process model. The rest are refinements of these four.
Event (circle)
Something that happens - a start, an end, or a trigger mid-flow. Thin ring = start, thick ring = end.
Task (rounded box)
A unit of work performed by a person or system. The BPMN equivalent of the process box.
Gateway (diamond)
Controls how the flow splits or merges. An X means an exclusive choice; a + means parallel paths.
Pool / Lane
A container that shows who does the work. Each lane is a role, team, or system.
Notice the rough correspondence: the flowchart terminator becomes the BPMN event circle, the process box becomes the task, and the decision diamond becomes the gateway. BPMN adds pools and lanes so the diagram also shows who is responsible for each step - something a plain flowchart cannot do cleanly.
Which set should you use?
Use flowchart shapes when...
You are sketching quickly, the process is simple and linear, and the map is for your own team's understanding rather than a shared standard.
Use BPMN when...
The process crosses teams, has decisions and parallel work, or will be maintained, audited, or used as a basis for automation. BPMN removes ambiguity.
For a side-by-side, read BPMN vs Flowchart.
How to read a map fast
- 1.Find the start symbol and follow the arrows in order - the flow always moves in the direction the arrowhead points.
- 2.At every diamond, read the question and the answer on each exit to pick your path.
- 3.If there are lanes, note which role owns the box you are looking at - the lane tells you who does it.
- 4.Keep going until you reach an end symbol. If a path never ends, that is a modelling gap worth flagging.
Ready to put these symbols to use? Model your process for free in the Crismo modeler - it supports the full BPMN symbol set, pools and lanes included.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the basic process map symbols?▼
The core flowchart set is: terminator (start/end, a rounded pill), process/task (a rectangle), decision (a diamond), data (a parallelogram), document (a wavy-bottom shape), delay (a half-rounded box), connector (a small circle), and the flow arrow that links them.
What does a diamond mean on a process map?▼
A diamond is a decision point. It poses a question, and each arrow leaving it is a labelled answer such as Yes or No. In BPMN the equivalent is a gateway, drawn as a diamond with a marker inside (X for an exclusive choice, + for parallel paths).
What is the difference between flowchart and BPMN symbols?▼
Flowchart symbols are informal and great for quick sketches. BPMN is a formal standard with precise rules and extra elements - pools and lanes - that show who performs each step. Use flowcharts for simple maps and BPMN for shared, maintained, or automation-bound processes.
What shape represents a document?▼
A document is drawn as a rectangle with a wavy bottom edge, representing a sheet of paper. It marks a document produced or consumed by the process, such as an invoice, contract, or report.
Do I need to learn all 68 BPMN symbols?▼
No. Four building blocks - the event circle, the task box, the gateway diamond, and pools/lanes - carry most of the meaning. Learn those first, and add the specialised symbols only when a specific process needs them.