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The document provides an overview of Data Flow Diagrams (DFD), which represent the flow of information in computer systems and illustrate how data is transformed by processing functions. It outlines the components of DFD, including external entities, processes, data stores, and data flows, and distinguishes between logical and physical DFDs. Additionally, it describes the different levels of DFD, from the high-level context diagram to more detailed representations of system modules.

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5 views

lecture 4

The document provides an overview of Data Flow Diagrams (DFD), which represent the flow of information in computer systems and illustrate how data is transformed by processing functions. It outlines the components of DFD, including external entities, processes, data stores, and data flows, and distinguishes between logical and physical DFDs. Additionally, it describes the different levels of DFD, from the high-level context diagram to more detailed representations of system modules.

Uploaded by

saadshaheermrd555
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Data Flow Diagrams(DFD)

By
Mr Umer Tanveer
Lecturer of Computer Science
AWKUM, Garden Campus
Functional Modeling and Information flow:
• It is used to represent the flow of information in any computer based
system.
• It provides an indication of how data object are transformed by
processing function.
• Data flow diagram is the diagrammatic form that is used to show this
transformation.
• DFD takes an input-process-out view of a system.
Data Flow Diagram (DFD)
• A graphical tool, useful for communicating with users, managers and
other personnel.
• Useful for analyzing existing as well as proposed systems.
• Focus on the movement of data between external entities and
processes, and between processes and data stores.
• It shows how data enters and leaves the system, what changes the
information, and where data is stored.
Objective of DFD
• The objective of a DFD is to show the scope and boundaries of a
system as a whole.
• It may be used as a communication tool between a system analyst
and any person who plays a part in the order that acts as a starting
point for redesigning a system.
• The DFD is also called as a data flow graph or bubble chart.
Components of DFD
• All data flow diagrams include four main elements:
• External Entity
• Process
• Data Store
• Data Flow.
Components of DFD
• Entities:
Entities include source and destination of the data. Entities are
represented by rectangle with their corresponding names.
• Process:
The tasks performed on the data is known as process. Process is
represented by circle. Somewhere round edge rectangles are also
used to represent process.
Components of DFD
• Data Storage:
Data storage includes the database of the system. It is represented by
rectangle with both smaller sides missing or in other words within
two parallel lines.
• Data Flow:
The movement of data in the system is known as data flow. It is
represented with the help of arrow. The tail of the arrow is source
and the head of the arrow is destination.
Example:
Importance of Data Flow Diagram:
• Data flow diagram is a simple formalism to represent the flow of data
in the system.
• It allows a simple set of intuitive concepts and rules.
• It is an elegant technique that is useful to represent the results of
structured analysis of software problem as well as to represent the
flow of documents in an organization.
Rules of Data Flow:
Data can flow from Data cannot flow from
• External entity to process • External entity to external entity
• Process to external entity • External entity to store
• Process to store and back • Store to external entity
• Process to process • Store to store
Types of DFD
• There are two distinct types of data flow diagrams:
• Logical DFD
• Physical DFD.
Logical DFD
• Logical data flow diagram mainly focuses on the system process.
• It illustrates how data flows in the system.
• Logical DFD is used in various organizations for the smooth running of
system. Like in a Banking software system, it is used to describe how
data is moved from one entity to another.
Physical DFD
• Physical data flow diagram shows how the data flow is actually
implemented in the system.
• These diagrams specify the software, hardware, files, and people
involved in an information flow.
• Physical DFD is more specific and close to implementation.
Levels of DFD
• Level 0 - Highest abstraction level DFD is known as Level 0 DFD, which
depicts the entire information system as one diagram concealing all
the underlying details.
• Level 0 DFDs are also known as context level DFDs.
Level 0 Examples
Levels of DFD
• Level 1 - The Level 0 DFD is broken down into more specific, Level 1
DFD. Level 1 DFD depicts basic modules in the system and flow of
data among various modules.
• Level 1 DFD also mentions basic processes and sources of
information.
•
Level-1 Example:
Level-1
Levels of DFD
• Level 2 - At this level, DFD shows how data flows inside the modules
mentioned in Level 1.
• Higher level DFDs can be transformed into more specific lower level
DFDs with deeper level of understanding unless the desired level of
specification is achieved.

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