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Introduction To Data Flow Diagrams

Data flow diagrams (DFDs) are used to model how data flows through an information system by representing processes, data stores, external entities, and data flows. DFDs are hierarchical, with the highest level context diagram showing the system as a single process. Lower levels decompose this process into more detailed sub-processes. Well-formed DFDs follow rules such as processes requiring both inputs and outputs, and data only flowing between elements via processes.

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Harsh Dalmia
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58 views

Introduction To Data Flow Diagrams

Data flow diagrams (DFDs) are used to model how data flows through an information system by representing processes, data stores, external entities, and data flows. DFDs are hierarchical, with the highest level context diagram showing the system as a single process. Lower levels decompose this process into more detailed sub-processes. Well-formed DFDs follow rules such as processes requiring both inputs and outputs, and data only flowing between elements via processes.

Uploaded by

Harsh Dalmia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Data Flow Diagrams

Data Flow Diagrams (DFD)


• Data flow diagrams is a tool used to coherently represent the
information gathered as part of requirement analysis.

• DFD enable you to model how data flow through an information


system, the relationships among the data flows, and how data come
to be stored at specific locations.

• DFDs are considered as process models since the diagrams focus on


the movement of data between processes.
DFD : Process Modeling
• Process modeling involves graphically representing the functions, or
processes, that capture, manipulate, store, and distribute data
between a system and its environment and between components
within a system.

• It is shown as a hierarchy from top (high-level) to bottom (low-level).


DFD : Process Hierarchy
• The highest level DFD is called as context diagram.

• The purpose of context diagram is to show the scope of the system


indicating which elements are inside the scope of the system and
which elements are outside.

• The rationale for this process hierarchy is that process understanding


evolves from the general to more detailed.
DFD Language Vocabulary* : PROCESS
• It is work or action performed on data so that it
gets transformed, stored or distributed.

• Upper portion is used to indicate the number of


the process (starting with 0).

• Lower portion contains the name of the process.

• It uses a verb phrase representing some action


taken (Receive, Calculate, Transform, etc.)
* as per the Gane & Sarson notations. Other notation is developed by Yourdon & Coad.
DFD Language Vocabulary* : DATA STORE
• It is data at rest.
• It may be person (customer, supplier), concept
(order, invoice), object (customer receipt file).
• The left end is used to number the data store
(D1, D2…)

• Inside the main part of the rectangle is the label


for the data store.
• It uses a noun phrase.
* as per the Gane & Sarson notations
DFD Language Vocabulary* : SOURCE/SINK
• It is the origin and/or destination of the data.

• They are referred as external entities since they


are outside the system and define the boundaries
of the system.

• Data must originate from one or more sources,


and the system must produce information to one
or more sinks.

• It uses a noun phrase.


* as per the Gane & Sarson notations
DFD Language Vocabulary* : DATA FLOW

• The arrow with a label to highlight the data in


motion.

• It uses a noun phrase.

* as per the Gane & Sarson notations


Case Study
• Consider the process of ordering pizza from Dominos, Manipal.
• The information system used by Dominos
i. Takes customer orders
ii. Sends the orders to the kitchen
iii. Monitors orders prepared and consumed and
iv. Tracks inventory for preparing MIS reports for Dominos
management.
Context Diagram (Level 0)
• One process, 3 source/sinks, 4 data flows and 0 data stores.
• The single process is labelled 0 and represents the entire system.
• All context diagrams have only one process, labelled 0.
• Data stores are never present in the context diagram since at this
highest level of process hierarchy, all data stores are present inside
the process.
Level 1
• The food ordering system (Context
Diagram) can be broken down into
4 processes flows:
1. Customer order gets transmitted
to the kitchen and comes back as
receipt to customer.
2. Customer order gets transmitted
into a list of menu items sold.
3. The customer order is
transformed into inventory data.
4. The goods and inventory process
generates reports for the
management.
Level 2 for Process 4
Level 3 for Process 4.3
Process Hierarchy
➢Context : Level 0

➢Level 1 : 1, 2, 3

➢Level 2 : {1.1, 1.2,1.3,..}, {2.1, 2.2, 2.3,2.4}, …

➢Level 3 : {1.2.1, 1.2.2, 1.2.3…} {2.4.1, 2.4.2} …


Functional Decomposition
• This process of starting with the entire system and then going into
sub-components is called as functional decomposition.

• This decomposition continues till you have reached a point at which


no sub-process can be logically broken down any further.
DFD Balancing
• When we are decomposing the DFD from one level to another, the
inputs and outputs to the process do not change from one level to
the next level.

• No new inputs or outputs are shown when we decompose the DFD.

• This is called balancing.


Example of Unbalanced DFD
Context Diagram Level 1 Diagram
Data Flow Balancing
• If a process gets decomposed, the data flows from higher to lower
level should also be named accordingly.

• No new data can be added during the decomposition and all the data
in the higher (composite) process must be accounted for in one or the
other sub-flows.
Higher level composite Lower level composite
data flow name data flow name
RULES : PROCESS

• No process can have output without input.

• No process can have input without output.


RULES : DATA STORE
• Data cannot move directly from one data store to another.

• It must be moved by a process.


RULES : DATA STORE
• Data cannot directly move from an outside source to a data store.

• It must be moved by a process that receives data from the source and
places the (processed) data into the data store.
RULES : DATA STORE
• Data cannot directly move from a data store to an outside sink.

• It must be moved by a process that receives data from the data


store and places the (processed) data into the outside sink.
RULES: SOURCE/SINK
• Data cannot move directly move from source to sink.

• It must be moved by a process if the data are of concern to our


system.
RULES : DATA FLOW
• A data flow cannot be shown bidirectional.

• If you would need to show two separate data flows, you need to
create two separate single direction arrows.
Exercise
State Bank of India (SBI) provides loans to its banking customers. First a
potential loan customer meets with a loan officer and submits a loan
application by filling details such as type of loan (home loan/car loan),
required loan amount, loan duration, PAN Number, annual income
documents and residence address.
The loan officer determines the customer's credit score (CIBIL score) by
entering his PAN No. Depending on the credit rating of the customer and
annual income, the loan officer can either accept or reject the loan
application. In case the loan is approved, the loan officer decides the interest
rate, loan amount and payment schedule. Customer is intimated whether the
loan application is approved or rejected through a written letter that is sent
to the customer to his residence address.
Based on the above loan application process, develop a draw a DFD - Level 0,
1 and 2.
DFD Modelling Software and Related Links
1. https://cloud.smartdraw.com/
➢https://www.smartdraw.com/data-flow-diagram/#DFDSymbols

2. https://online.visual-paradigm.com
➢ https://online.visual-
paradigm.com/w/inxqbiqq/drive/#diagramlist:proj=0&new=DataFlowDiagram

➢ https://online.visual-
paradigm.com/w/inxqbiqq/diagrams/#diagram:workspace=inxqbiqq&proj=0&type=DataFlow
Diagram&gallery=/repository/2e409d26-3345-4516-acde-
c36b59fa3e0b.xml&name=Food%20Ordering%20System

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