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Data Flow Diagram

This document discusses data flow diagrams (DFDs), including context and level 1 DFDs. It provides examples and steps for creating each type of DFD. Context DFDs show the system scope and external entities simply, while level 1 DFDs break the main process into subprocesses and include data stores. The document recommends using diagramming software tools to easily create visually appealing multi-level DFDs.

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Mohammad Habeebulla
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389 views6 pages

Data Flow Diagram

This document discusses data flow diagrams (DFDs), including context and level 1 DFDs. It provides examples and steps for creating each type of DFD. Context DFDs show the system scope and external entities simply, while level 1 DFDs break the main process into subprocesses and include data stores. The document recommends using diagramming software tools to easily create visually appealing multi-level DFDs.

Uploaded by

Mohammad Habeebulla
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Data flow diagram

The purpose is to express the system scope at a high level as well as to prevent users from
deep down into complex details.

The major advantage of context DFD is simplicity.

Key context DFD characteristics:

 Simple to draw.
 No need of technical knowledge to understand it.
 Shows the system boundaries.
Steps for creating a context DFD:

 Step1: Define the process.


 Step2: Create a list of all external entities (all people and systems).
 Step3: Create a list of the data flows.
 Step4: Draw the diagram.
Let’s illustrate the things with a context data flow diagram example.

Below is shown a simple context DFD drawn for a Clothes Ordering System and
explanation.
Download the above diagram in PDF
Now, let’s explain how we create the diagram.

Srep1: Define the process.


As it is a context data flow diagram, the process is only one. In our case, it is Clothes
Ordering System. Draw a rectangle for the process.
Step 2: Create the list of all external entities.
In our example, the external entities are: Customer, Clothes Store, Clothes Supplier, and
the Sales Manager. These are all entities who are involved with our system. Also, now
you can draw a rectangle for each of the entities.
Step 3: Create a list of the data flows.
In between our process and the external entities, there are data flows that show a brief
description of the type of information exchanged between the entities and the system.
In our example, the list of data flows includes: Customer Order, Receipt, Clothes
Order, Receipt, Clothes Order, and Management Report.
Now, connect the rectangles with arrows signifying the data flows.

If data flows both ways between any two rectangles, create two individual arrows.

Step4: It is our diagram.


2. Level 1 data flow diagram: definition and example with explanation
As you saw above context DFD contains only one process and does not illustrate any data
store.

This is the main difference with level 1 DFD.

Level 1 DFD breaks down the main process into subprocesses that can then be seen on a
more deep level. Also, level 1 DFD contains data stores that are used by the main
process.

Steps for creating a context DFD:

 Step1: Define the processes (the main process and the subprocesses).


 Step2: Create a list of all external entities (all people and systems).
 Step3: Create a list of the data stores.
 Step4: Create a list of the data flows.
 Step5: Draw the diagram.
Here is our level 1 data flow example – a decomposition of the Clothes Ordering System
illustrated in the context DFD.
As you see, the above Clothes Order System Data Flow Diagram Example shows three
processes, four external entities, and also two data stores.

Here are the steps for creating the level 1 DFD:

Step 1: Define the processes.


The three processes are: Order Clothes, Generate Reports, and Order Inventory.
Step 2:  Create the list of all external entities.
The external entities are: Customer, Clothes Store, Sales Manager, and Supplier
Step 3: Create the list of the data stores.
These are: Order and Inventory
Step 4: Create the list of the data flows
Data flows are: Order, Bill, Order, Order, Inventory details, Inventory details, Orders,
Reports, Inventory Order, Inventory Order, Inventory details.
Step5: Create the diagram.
How to Create Data Flow Diagrams?
It might seem a little bit difficult to create data flow diagram examples. But in our IT
world, it can be very easy and even fun to make them using the appropriate software
tools.

You can use paid or free graphing software, free mind mapping software or diagramming
solutions such as:
 Lucidchard
 SmartDraw
 VisualParadigm
 Realtime Board – this is my favorite one.
The diagramming software tools like the above ones provide pre-ready templates that
save your time and efforts.

They also make creating multi-level DFD (such as level 2 DFD) easier and at the same
time deeper enough to represent clearly how the data is handled.

These tools also allow building very visually appealing DFDs with the use of a variety of
shapes, colors, symbols, and arrows.

Conclusion
In addition to the context and level 1 data flow diagram, there are also level 2 and level 3
DFD.

Level 2+ DFD just breaks processes down into more subprocesses. Teoritucaly, DFD
could go even beyond level 3, but they rarely do this on practice.

Hopefully, the above tutorial and context and level data flow diagram examples help you
understand better the meaning and steps for creating DFDs.

Data flow diagrams are very useful types of graphs in the business that can support
your data-driven decision-making, simply because the businesses are based on systems
and processes.
From customer ordering methods to banking processes and operations, nearly everything
an organization makes involves a system and processes of some sort.

That’s why the data flow diagram is a valuable way in which business can express and
communicate important information.

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