Flowcharts are one of the most common diagram types you will create with Mermaid.js. They help you visualize processes, workflows, and decision paths in a way that's easy to understand. Mermaid flowcharts use a simple syntax to define nodes (the steps or actions), edges (the lines or arrows connecting steps), and direction (how the flow moves from one node to another).

This flowchart begins with a "Start" node and proceeds through steps such as "Gather Requirements" and "Begin Implementation." Decision points are represented by nodes with curly braces, like {"Is It Approved?"} and {"Passes Tests?"}. Arrows (-->) show the direction of flow between nodes. You can modify the diagram by changing node labels, adjusting the flow direction (for instance, using graph LR for left-to-right instead of graph TD for top-down), or adding/removing steps and decision branches. Each node can be customized with different shapes: square brackets [ ] for standard steps, and curly braces { } for decision points. Loops and alternative paths are created by connecting nodes as needed, allowing you to represent complex processes with clarity.