Editing Block diagram (section)

{{Short description|Graphical system analysis method}}
[[Image:Windows 2000 architecture.png|thumb|An example block diagram, showing the [[Microsoft]] [[Windows 2000]] [[operating system]] architecture.]]

A '''block diagram''' is a [[diagram]] of a [[system]] in which the principal parts or functions are represented by blocks connected by lines that show the relationships of the blocks.<ref name ="SSEV">[http://pascal.computer.org/sev_display/index.action SEVOCAB: Software and Systems Engineering Vocabulary]. Term: ''block diagram''. retrieved 31 July 2008.</ref> They are heavily used in engineering in [[Hardware architecture|hardware design]], [[electronic design]], [[software design]], and [[process flow diagram]]s.

Block diagrams are typically used for higher level, less detailed descriptions that are intended to clarify overall concepts without concern for the details of implementation. Contrast this with the [[schematic diagram]]s and [[integrated circuit layout|layout diagram]]s used in electrical engineering, which show the implementation details of electrical components and physical construction.