Data Flow Diagrams (DFD)
Data Flow Diagrams (DFD)
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.