USING DATA
FLOW
DIAGRAMS(DFD)
OUTLINE
▪ Data flow diagram (DFD) definition
▪ Advantages of using DFD
▪ Data flow diagram symbols
▪ DFD Levels
▪ Creating data flow diagrams
DATA FLOW DIAGRAM
DEFINITION
DATA FLOW DIAGRAM
DEFINITION
▪ Data flow diagram is graphical representation of flow of data in an information
system or data-oriented systems.
▪ DFDs are one of the main methods available for analyzing systems.
▪ Difference from system flowcharts:
▪ DFDs depict logical data flow independent of technology
▪ Flowcharts depict details of physical systems
ADVANTAGES OF USING DFD
Four advantages over narrative explanations of data movement:
▪ Freedom from committing to the technical implementation too early.
▪ Understanding of the interrelationships of systems and subsystems.
▪ Communicating current system knowledge to users.
▪ Analysis of the proposed system.
DFD SYMBOLS
Four basic symbols are:
▪ A square for an external entity--a source or destination of data.
▪ A circle or a rectangle with rounded corners for the occurrence of
transforming process.
▪ A rectangle (open ended or not) for data store.
▪ An arrow for movement of data from one point to another.
DFD SYMBOLS
Symbol Meaning Example
Square Entity
Student
Circle or Rounded Rectangle Process
Create
Create
Student
Student
Record
Record
Rectangle Data Store Create Student
Record
Arrow Data Flow New Student Info
Attendance
ENTITY
Represented by a square
▪ An external entity or source
▪ Represent people or organizations outside of the system being
studied
▪ Shows the initial source and final recipient of data and information
▪ Should be named with a noun, describing that entity
ENTITY (CONTINUED)
▪ External entities may be:
▪ A person, such as CUSTOMER or STUDENT.
▪ A company or organization, such as BANK or SUPPLIER.
▪ Another department within the company, such as ORDER
FULFILLMENT.
▪ Another system or subsystem, such as the INVENTORY CONTROL
SYSTEM.
CUSTOMER STUDENT
PROCESS
Represented by a circle or rounded rectangle
▪ Represent either:
▪ A whole system
▪ A subsystem
▪ Work being done, an activity
▪ Names should be in the form verb-adjective-noun
▪ The exception is a process that represents an entire system or subsystem.
Create
Add New New
Record Student
DATA STORE
Represented by a rectangle
▪ Name with a noun, describing the data
▪ Data stores are usually given a unique reference number, such as D1,
D2, D3.
▪ Include any data stored, such as:
▪ A computer file or database.
▪ A transaction file .
▪ A set of tables .
▪ A manual file of records.
Students
A GLIMPSE OF DATABASE
▪ Data Stores could be in
one or more database
DATA FLOW
Represented by an arrow
▪ Data flow shows the data about a person, place, or thing that moves through the
system.
▪ Names should be a noun that describes the data moving through the system.
▪ Arrowhead indicates the flow direction.
▪ Use double headed-arrows only when a process is reading data and updating the
data on the same table or file.
DFD LEVELS
▪ DFDs are by LEVELS -> Level 0, Level 1, Level 2, etc.
▪ Context DFD
▪ Overview of the organizational system
▪ Level-0 (Can be a Context Diagram)
▪ Representation of system’s major processes at high level of abstraction
▪ Level-1
▪ Results from decomposition of Level 0 diagram
▪ Level-n
▪ Results from decomposition of Level n-1 diagram
DFD LEVELS
▪Start from Level 0, then Level 1, etc.
CREATING DFD
▪ GUIDELINES
Create a Context Diagram. This would be the Level 0.
Create a child diagram for each complex process on Level 0.
CONTEXT DIAGRAM
OFTEN REFERRED TO AS LEVEL 0
▪ Shows system boundaries
▪ Only ONE process symbol and NO data store shown
CONTEXT DIAGRAM
ASSIGNMENT
1. How many symbols can be used in a Data Flow Diagram?
2. What symbol is used to represent Data Storage?
3. What symbol is used to represent Process?
4. Create a SIMPLE Context Diagram for a Clinic System.
5. Create a SIMPLE Context Diagram for a Food Ordering System.
