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    Arun Shankar N. Pillai
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    A data flow diagram (DFD) is a graphical representation of the flow of data through a system. It shows what data will be input and output from the system and where data will come from and go to. A DFD does not show timing or whether processes operate sequentially or in parallel. The context-level DFD shows the system's interactions with external agents as data flows across the system boundary, modeling the entire system as a single process. The Level 0 DFD then shows how the system is divided into sub-systems and identifies internal data stores. DFDs reveal relationships among components in a program and are useful for conveying how data flows through a system and is transformed.

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    A data flow diagram (DFD) is a graphical representation of the flow of data through a system. It shows what data will be input and output from the system and where data will come from and go to. A DFD does not show timing or whether processes operate sequentially or in parallel. The context-level DFD shows the system's interactions with external agents as data flows across the system boundary, modeling the entire system as a single process. The Level 0 DFD then shows how the system is divided into sub-systems and identifies internal data stores. DFDs reveal relationships among components in a program and are useful for conveying how data flows through a system and is transformed.

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    139 views4 pages

    Data Flow Diagram

    Uploaded by

    Arun Shankar N. Pillai
    A data flow diagram (DFD) is a graphical representation of the flow of data through a system. It shows what data will be input and output from the system and where data will come from and go to. A DFD does not show timing or whether processes operate sequentially or in parallel. The context-level DFD shows the system's interactions with external agents as data flows across the system boundary, modeling the entire system as a single process. The Level 0 DFD then shows how the system is divided into sub-systems and identifies internal data stores. DFDs reveal relationships among components in a program and are useful for conveying how data flows through a system and is transformed.

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    Data flow diagram

    From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    Data flow diagram example.[1]

    A data flow diagram (DFD) is a graphical representation of the "flow" of data through an information system, modelling its process aspects. Often they are a preliminary step used to create an overview of the system which can later be elaborated.[2] DFDs can also be used for thevisualization of data processing (structured design). A DFD shows what kinds of data will be input to and output from the system, where the data will come from and go to, and where the data will be stored. It does not show information about the timing of processes, or information about whether processes will operate in sequence or in parallel (which is shown on a flowchart).
    Contents
    [hide]

    1 Overview 2 See also 3 Notes 4 Further reading 5 External links

    [edit]Overview

    Data flow diagram example.

    Data flow diagram -Yourdon/DeMarco notation.

    It is common practice to draw the context-level data flow diagram first, which shows the interaction between the system and external agents which act as data sources and data sinks. On the context diagram the system's interactions with the outside world are modelled purely in terms of data flows across the system boundary. The context diagram shows the entire system as a single process, and gives no clues as to its internal organization. This context-level DFD is next "exploded", to produce a Level 0 DFD that shows some of the detail of the system being modeled. The Level 0 DFD shows how the system is divided into sub-systems (processes), each of which deals with one or more of the data flows to or from an external agent, and which together provide all of the functionality of the system as a whole. It also identifies internal data stores that must be present in order for the system to do its job, and shows the flow of data between the various parts of the system. Data flow diagrams were proposed by Larry Constantine, the original developer of structured design,
    [3]

    based on Martin and Estrin's "data flow graph" model of computation.

    Data flow diagrams (DFDs) are one of the three essential perspectives of the structured-systems analysis and design method SSADM. The sponsor of a project and the end users will need to be briefed and consulted throughout all stages of a system's evolution. With a data flow diagram, users are able to visualize how the system will operate, what the system will accomplish, and how the system will be implemented. The old system's dataflow diagrams can be drawn up and compared with the new system's data flow diagrams to draw comparisons to implement a more efficient system. Data flow diagrams can be used to provide the end user with a physical idea of where the data they input ultimately has an effect upon the structure of the whole system from order to dispatch to report. How any system is developed can be determined through a data flow diagram.

    In the course of developing a set of levelled data flow diagrams the analyst/designers is forced to address how the system may be decomposed into component sub-systems, and to identify the transaction data in the data model. There are different notations to draw data flow diagrams (Yourdon & Coad and Gane & Sarson[4]), defining different visual representations for processes, data stores, data flow, and external entities.[5]

    What is Data Flow Diagram and what are its symbols?


    Data Flow Diagram (DFD) is an important technique for modeling a systems highlevel detail by showing how input data is transformed to output results through a sequence of functional transformations. DFDs reveal relationships among and between the various components in a program or system. DFDs consists of four major components: entities, processes, data stores and data flows.

    Why DFDs are useful?


    When it comes to conveying how information data flows through system and how that data is transformed in the process, DFDs are the method of choice over technical descriptions for three principle reasons. 1. DFDs are easier to understand by technical and non-technical audiences 2. DFDs can provide a high level system overview, complete with boundaries and connections to other systems 3. DFDs can provide a detailed representation of system components. A data flow diagram represents the following: 1. External devices sending and receiving data 2. Processes that change that data 3. Data flows themselves 4. Data storage locations Data flow diagrams have replaced flowcharts and pseudo code as the tool of choice for showing program design. A DFD illustrates those functions that must be performed in a program as well as the data that the function will need. In spite of its strength, the beauty of DFD lies on its dependence upon just four symbols to express program design.

    Symbols of Data Flow Diagram


    There only four symbols used to write Data Flow Diagram as follows:

    External Entities > Rectangular box Data Flow > Arrow headed lines Process > Bubble (Circle or round corner square) Data Store > Narrow opened rectangle

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