What is "block diagram"

n. A pictorial representation of a system or process in which subsystems or other components are represented by geometric shapes joined by lines or arrows

n. a diagram showing the interconnections between the components of system (especially an electronic system)

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. They are heavily used in engineering in hardware design, electronic design, software design, and process flow diagrams.

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 diagrams and layout diagrams used in electrical engineering, which show the implementation details of electrical components and physical construction.