A
family tree is a chart used in
genealogy to show the family connections between individuals, consisting of the individuals' names (usually accompanied by dates, and often also places and occupations) connected by various types of line representing marriages, extra-marital unions, and progeniture. Some use the term only for charts showing strict
patrilineal descent, although in common usage the term is used much more generally.
In situations where one is restricted to using plain text, it is often easier to show a person's ancestry using an Ahnentafel rather than a tree.
For a particularly complex example of a family tree, see Family Tree of the Greek Gods.