TS ISO 5807

TS ISO 5807 defines the symbols and established conventions used in information processing documentation for flow and network representations. It provides a common graphical language for data, program and system flowcharts, as well as program network charts and system resources charts, so that technical documents can be read more consistently.

A common symbol language for documentation

In information processing, flowcharts and related diagrams are used to show process steps, decision points, data movement and relationships between system elements. The focus of TS ISO 5807 is the definition of the symbols used in these diagrams and the general rules for how they are interpreted. This helps the same function be represented in a similar way across teams, projects and documentation sets. In general technical practice, that supports software development, systems analysis, process design and maintenance documentation.

Diagram types covered

• Data flowcharts: show how information moves through a system.
• Program flowcharts: visualize the sequence of operations and decision logic in a program.
• System flowcharts: describe the overall arrangement of hardware, processing and data paths.
• Program network charts: express relationships between program activities and dependencies.
• System resources charts: show the distribution of resources and processing elements within a system.

The standard provides a consistent basis for technical environments where these representations are used together; it addresses symbols and usage conventions rather than a specific software tool, a single drawing method, or an approval or test procedure. For technical communication, that makes diagrams easier to compare and reduces the risk of misinterpretation.

TS ISO 5807 is cited for use together with TS ISO/IEC 2382-1 in information processing documentation. In practical terms, standards of this kind help ensure that diagrams prepared at different stages of a system are organised with shared terminology and similar graphic logic.