ISO 5807-1985 PDF

Full title and description

Information processing — Documentation symbols and conventions for data, program and system flowcharts, program network charts and system resources charts (ISO 5807:1985). The standard defines a set of graphical symbols and conventions intended for documenting information-processing procedures and system structure, including data flowcharts, program flowcharts, system flowcharts, program network charts and system resources charts.

Abstract

ISO 5807:1985 specifies standard documentation symbols and usage conventions for representing data and control flows, program logic, program networks and system resource relationships. It provides symbol definitions, layout and labelling guidance to improve clarity and interoperability of technical documentation in information processing contexts, and is intended to be used in conjunction with related terminology standards (for example ISO 2382/1).

General information

• Status: Published (International Standard, confirmed).
• Publication date: February 1985 (ISO 5807:1985, Edition 1, 1985-02).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO); also issued/adopted in some countries as an ANSI/ISO national adoption.
• ICS / categories: 35.080 (Software) and 01.080.50 (Graphical symbols for information technology/telecommunications drawings).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (1985).
• Number of pages: 25 pages.

Scope

ISO 5807:1985 standardizes the graphical symbols and conventions used when documenting information-processing systems. It covers symbol shapes and meanings, rules for connecting and sequencing symbols, conventions for labelling and annotation, and guidance for producing data flowcharts, program (logic) flowcharts, system flowcharts, program network charts and system resources charts. The standard is intended to support consistent documentation practices and to be used alongside related terminology and documentation standards.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition and graphical presentation of symbols for processes, data, decisions, documents and program/ system resources.
• Conventions for drawing flow direction, connectors, junctions and alternative paths.
• Rules for labelling symbols and flows (identifiers, variable names, descriptive text) to ensure clarity.
• Guidance on combining data, program and system flow representations in coherent documentation.
• Recommendations for use with ISO terminology (e.g., ISO 2382) to maintain consistent meaning across documents.

Typical use and users

ISO 5807 is used by software engineers, systems analysts, technical writers, documentation specialists, trainers and organizations producing formal technical documentation of information-processing systems. It has been applied in systems design, program documentation, training materials and archival records where standardized diagram symbols improve readability and reduce ambiguity. In practice the 1985 conventions influenced later diagramming practices, though many organizations now also use more modern modelling notations; the original ISO 5807 symbols remain relevant for legacy documents and historical consistency.

Related standards

ISO 5807:1985 replaces or supersedes earlier ISO flowchart symbol standards such as ISO 1028:1973 and ISO 2636:1973. It is intended to be used with ISO terminology standards (for example ISO 2382/1) and sits alongside other information-processing documentation standards (for example ISO 5806 and various ISO/IEC JTC 1 outputs). National adoptions and ANSI variants (ANSI/ISO 5807) exist.

Keywords

flowchart, diagram, documentation symbols, data flowchart, program flowchart, system flowchart, program network chart, system resources chart, information processing, ISO 5807, documentation conventions.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 5807:1985 is an international standard that defines graphical symbols and conventions for documenting data, program and system flowcharts, program network charts and system resources charts.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers symbol definitions, connection and sequencing rules, labelling conventions and guidance for producing consistent diagrams used in information-processing documentation. It addresses data flows, program logic flows, system flows and resource charts.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Typical users include software engineers, systems analysts, technical authors and organizations that need standardized diagrammatic documentation—especially when working with legacy systems or when consistent cross-organizational documentation is required.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 5807:1985 remains the published 1985 edition of the standard (Edition 1) and is listed as published/confirmed by ISO. However, many organizations have migrated to newer modelling notations and tools; ISO 5807 is most often encountered for legacy documentation and historical reference.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is part of ISO information-processing documentation work and relates to earlier ISO flowchart symbol standards (for example ISO 1028:1973 and ISO 2636:1973) and to ISO terminology standards such as ISO 2382/1; it is maintained within the ISO/IEC JTC 1 technical committee portfolio.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Flowchart, symbols, documentation conventions, data flowchart, program flowchart, system flowchart, program network, system resources, ISO 5807.