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  • Data Flow Diagrams (DFD)

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    Ayesha Babar
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    Data flow diagrams (DFDs) map the flow of information in a process or system using common symbols. DFDs can range from simple hand-drawn diagrams to complex multi-level diagrams that show data flow at different levels of abstraction. Symbols represent external entities, processes, data stores, and data flows. DFDs are used to analyze existing systems or design new ones.

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    Data flow diagrams (DFDs) map the flow of information in a process or system using common symbols. DFDs can range from simple hand-drawn diagrams to complex multi-level diagrams that show data flow at different levels of abstraction. Symbols represent external entities, processes, data stores, and data flows. DFDs are used to analyze existing systems or design new ones.

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    71 views14 pages

    Data Flow Diagrams (DFD)

    Uploaded by

    Ayesha Babar
    Data flow diagrams (DFDs) map the flow of information in a process or system using common symbols. DFDs can range from simple hand-drawn diagrams to complex multi-level diagrams that show data flow at different levels of abstraction. Symbols represent external entities, processes, data stores, and data flows. DFDs are used to analyze existing systems or design new ones.

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    Data Flow Diagrams (DFD)

    Data Flow Diagram


    • A data flow diagram (DFD) maps out the flow of information for any
    process or system. It uses defined symbols like rectangles, circles and
    arrows, plus short text labels, to show data inputs, outputs, storage
    points and the routes between each destination. Data flowcharts can
    range from simple, even hand-drawn process overviews, to in-depth,
    multi-level DFDs that dig progressively deeper into how the data is
    handled. They can be used to analyze an existing system or model a
    new one.
    Symbols and Notations Used in DFDs

    • Two common systems of symbols are named after their creators:


    • Yourdon and Coad
    • Gane and Sarson

    Using any convention’s DFD rules or guidelines, the symbols depict the
    four components of data flow diagrams.
    • External entity: an outside system that sends or receives data, communicating
    with the system being diagrammed. They are the sources and destinations of
    information entering or leaving the system. They might be an outside
    organization or person, a computer system or a business system. They are also
    known as terminators, sources and sinks or actors. They are typically drawn on
    the edges of the diagram.
    • Process: any process that changes the data, producing an output. It might
    perform computations, or sort data based on logic, or direct the data flow based
    on business rules. A short label is used to describe the process, such as “Submit
    payment.”
    • Data store: files or repositories that hold information for later use, such as a
    database table or a membership form. Each data store receives a simple label,
    such as “Orders.”
    • Data flow: the route that data takes between the external entities, processes and
    data stores. It portrays the interface between the other components and is
    shown with arrows, typically labeled with a short data name, like “Billing details.”
    Symbols
    DFD rules and tips
    • Each process should have at least one input and an output.

    • Each data store should have at least one data flow in and one data
    flow out.

    • Data stored in a system must go through a process.

    • All processes in a DFD go to another process or a data store.


    Levels in Data Flow Diagrams (DFD)
    • In Software engineering DFD(data flow diagram) can be drawn to
    represent the system of different levels of abstraction. Higher level
    DFDs are partitioned into low levels-hacking more information and
    functional elements. Levels in DFD are numbered 0, 1, 2 or beyond.
    Here, we will see mainly 3 levels in data flow diagram, which are: 0-
    level DFD, 1-level DFD, and 2-level DFD.
    0-level DFD
    • It is also known as context diagram. It's designed to be an abstraction
    view, showing the system as a single process with its relationship to
    external entities. It represent the entire system as single bubble with
    input and output data indicated by incoming/outgoing arrows.
    1-level DFD
    In 1-level DFD, context diagram is decomposed into multiple
    bubbles/processes.in this level we highlight the main functions of the
    system and breakdown the high level process of 0-level DFD into sub
    processes.
    2-level DFD
    • 2-level DFD goes one step deeper into parts of 1-level DFD. It can be
    used to plan or record the specific/necessary detail about the
    system’s functioning.
    Examples of how DFDs can be used
    • DFD in software engineering
    • DFD in business analysis
    • DFD in business process re-engineering
    • DFD in system structures
    • DFD in agile development

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