Meaning of the Shapes in Microsoft Visio?

When we talk about the meaning of the shapes in Visio. Then we can say that there is no standard or specific meaning of shapes in Visio. However, we use specific shapes for our flowcharts, org charts, network diagrams, and diagram.

Some shapes we use mostly in our flowchart, like process, decision, starting/ending, and connector. We use mostly these shapes and sometimes we use other shapes according to the requirement. However, we can go with any shapes for designing our flowcharts, org chart, and process to convey a clear message to our audience.

Visio is a diagramming software that is introduced by Microsoft in 2000. In Visio, we use a graphical representation of shapes for the representation of the data. Mostly, we draw flowcharts, org charts, network diagrams, and simple diagrams as well as complex diagrams. 

Basically, we use many types of shapes in Visio but Basic flowchart shapes and basic shapes are mostly used in designing our flowchart either simple or complex.

 In Basic Flowchart Shapes mostly used shapes are the following shapes:

1. Process
2. Decision
3. Subprocess
4. Start/End
5. Document
6. Data
7. Database
8. External Data
9. Custom 1
10. Custom 2
11. Custom 3
12. Custom 4
13. On-page reference
14. Off-Page reference

Process

Process shapes is  mostly used shape almost in every step of the process.

Decision

Decision shape is use for decision. As, we know that there are two decision Yes and No. As we know that decision is mostly use in process. But for now there is only yes, and no decision in the process.

Subprocess

Subprocess is use to combine to create the sub-process that defined something in the process.

Start/End

Start and End shape are use for the first and last step of the process and sometime we know as a terminator.

Document

Document shape is used to represent a step that is the result in a document.

Data

Data shape indicates the information is coming into the process from outside, or leaving the process in the flowchart. Also, sometimes we called as Input/Output shapes.

On-Page Reference

On-page reference includes circle we use it for on-page reference that represents the reference of somewhere in the drawing.

Off-Page Reference

In off-page reference, we use this shape and link us to mostly on the other page. Simply it's hyperlinks us to other one or more page in our Visio process.