11/5/2018 (3) What are the similarities and differences between a data flow diagram and a use case?

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Data Flow Diagrams (DFD) Use Case Analysis +2 Related Questions

What are the similarities and differences between What is a data flow diagram?
a data flow diagram and a use case? What are the difference between level 0, level 1
Answer Follow · 11 Request and level 2 Data flow diagrams?

What is the relationship between a use case

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Why do system analysts use data flow diagram
(DFD)?
6 Answers
What’s the difference between a data flow diagram
Robert Smith, MOBILE APP DEVELOPERS and use case diagram in terms of construction and
usage?
Answered May 19, 2017

DFD (Data Flow Diagram) How can I learn to do Data flow diagrams better?

Where can I draw a data flow diagram online?

DFD is concerned with the flow of information/data and processes in the system
working with this information/data. It helps in identifying any business processes or What is the difference between a class diagram
and a use case diagram? Why do we need this?
existing business processes.
What is a use case diagram?
At most simply you can say a data flow is about how data flow and how it will be used
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in system. And for more elaboration where data will be saved.
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Start with context diagram simple representation of whole system. So for the further
representation we do 1 more level and dig again to go through 3 level after that it' is Question Stats
not much necessary to dig more. More levels needed when asked for more process
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information.
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Use Case Last Asked Oct 6, 2017

Edits
Use case is concerned with defining about what the system has to offer to its users.
You can say Unified modeling language to it. Moreover while developing software's
or in systems engineering, all actions we performed or event happening in this model
or software defined by use case. What are achievement we want to get defined by use
case. Actors in use case either human or external system or you can say a bot or data
server. Higher levels software's use these use cases where all the thing must shown.

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11/5/2018 (3) What are the similarities and differences between a data flow diagram and a use case? - Quora
Nihal Ansari, Blockchain Consultant (2016-present)
Answered Oct 18, 2017

1. Data flow diagram talks about the flow of data, i.e. Input - a process that
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processes it - and output in a system or a portion of the system. There are
various blocks explaining this in a typical DFD. DFDs generally related to
the whole system or a major subsystem inside of a bigger system. DFD is
generally technical in nature.

2. A Use case - Is the journey of “one” functionality offered by your system to

the user. A use case is the presentation of one particular feature of a bigger
system which helps a user complete some task. For example, in case of an
ATM, the process of withdrawing money with the help of ATM software
from inserting the card to the collection of cash, is a use case. Use case is
independent of underlying technology and hence is a user level document.
i.e. not technical.

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Curtis Tsang, Founder, Enterprise & Software Architect PhD, MSc, MBA, BSc.
Answered Jan 18

Similarity: Both DFD & Use Case identify functional requirements

Differences:

DFD technique - apply Top-download decomposition (more suitable for non-OOP)

Learn More:

What is Data Flow Diagram?

Logical vs Physical Data Flow Diagrams

Use Case analysis - end-to-end user scenario analysis

What is Use Case Diagram? (typically aims for OOP)

Free Tool for drawing UML diagram

Free UML Tool

UML 2.5 Diagram Example

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Crystal Pellitier
Answered Oct 12, 2015

A data flow diagram is a graphic representation of a system or portion of system. It

consists of data flows, processes, sources, destinations, and stores – all described
through the use of easily understood symbols. An entire system can be described
from the viewpoint of the data it processes with only four symbol. At the same time,

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11/5/2018 (3) What are the similarities and differences between a data flow diagram and a use case? - Quora

data flow diagrams are powerful enough to show parallel activities. When standard
symbols limit communication, a presentation graph, which uses symbols of people,
files, terminals, and documents, can be used to discuss a system with users.
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A user case diagram shows you some of the use cases in your system, some of the
actors in your system, and the relationships between them. A use case is a high- level
piece of functionality that the system will provide. An actor is anyone or anything
that interacts with the system being built.

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Razvan Coca
Answered Mar 22, 2017

One could see data flow diagram as an augmented use case diagram. Even one that
makes far more sense to a developer/architect than the use case diagram.

However use case diagram should be as simple as possible in my view.

One reason would be that you could use the use case diagrams to draft a contract and
a bill. Another is that you would not discuss business cases and data flow in the same
long conversation. And a strategic one is that you would not want to discuss with the
client all the details of the architecture since businessmen do not always make the
best educated architectural choices.

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Andrew Targowski, former Professor Emeritus at Western Michigan

University (1980-2017)
Answered Mar 26, 2017

Data Flow Diagram only shows the sources and destinations of data coming and
going from the system and the transformation of data when it passes through some
system process. A Use Case is used to capture the functional requirements of the
system. A Use Case is a high- level piece of functionality that the system will provide
to different actors interacting with the system.

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