Data Flow Diagrams
Major Topics
• DFD introduction
• DFD uses
• Data flow symbols
• Data flow types
• DFD Rules
• DFD Advantages
05/01/24 2
Data Flow Diagrams
• One of the main methods available for analyzing data-
oriented systems
• DFDs emphasize the logic underlying the system
• The systems analysts can put together a graphical
representation of data movement through the organization
05/01/24 3
Data Flow Diagrams are:
• A graphical tool, useful for communicating with
users, managers, and other IS personnel
• Usefulfor analyzing existing as well as
proposed systems
• A relatively simple technique to learn and use
05/01/24 4
Using Data Flow Diagrams
• Unexploded data flow diagrams are useful to identify information requirements
• Exploded data flow diagrams can be used for presentation, education, and
gathering feedback information from users
• DFDs may be used to analyze the system to ensure that the design is complete
• DFDs are used to divide the system into programs
• Data flow diagrams can be used for the system documentation
05/01/24 5
4 symbols used in DFD
1. CIRCLE- Process or transformation of data
2. A PAIR OF PARALLEL LINES- A Data stored until used by
other parts or process
3. RECTANGLE-Indicate external entity
4. AN ARROW-Indicate flow of data
05/01/24 6
Example Data Flow Diagram
data store
data flow process
external
entity
05/01/24 7
External Entities
• 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
• External agents and data flows can be repeated on a
process model in order to avoid line crossing, but do not
repeat process.
05/01/24 8
Processes
• Represent either:
• A whole system, A subsystem, Work being done, an activity
• Show what system does
• Each process consist one or more data input or output
• Process-consist single phrase
• Name and number inside the circle
• A process must have both data inflows and outflows
• Process names should start with a verb and end with a noun
05/01/24 9
Data Stores
• Name with a noun, describing the data
• Include any data stored, such as:
• A computer file or database
• A transaction file
• A set of tables
• A manual file of records
• A Data stored until used by other parts or process
• Process can enter data into store or retrieve data from store
• A data store must have at least one data inflow
05/01/24 10
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
Indicate flow of data
Pointing to data store- Writing or updating to data store
Pointing out of data store- reading process
05/01/24 11
Rules of data flows
•A series of data flows always starts or end at an
external agent and starts or ends at a data store.
Conversely, this means that a series of data flows
cannot start or end at a process
• All data flows must be labeled with the precise data
that is being exchanged
• Data flows are named as descriptive nouns
• A data flow cannot go between an external agent and
data store, but a process must be in between
• A data flow cannot go between to external agents but
a process must be in between
• A data flow cannot go between to data stores, but a
process must be in between 05/01/24 12
TYPE OF DFD
1. Context DFD
2. Intermediate DFD
05/01/24 13
1. Context DFD
• Display least amount of detail
• Identify system boundary and its relationship to the
entities
• Has only one process labeled with the system name
• Entities that interact with the system shown together
with label data flows
• No data stores
05/01/24 14
RULES OF DRAWING CONTEXT
DFD
• The word in the process symbols in context DFD is the name
of the system
• Context DFD possess one process symbol only
• Data stored symbols should not appear in context DFD
05/01/24 15
Example Context Diagram
course
student selections
schedule
Registration
Registration details
System
business
office
05/01/24 16
2. Intermediate DFD
• Show the sequences of process done by the system
together with data stores accessed by the process.
• Each process given a number to show their sequence of
occurrence
• All entities in Context DFD must appear on all level that
follow
05/01/24 17
RULES OF DRAWING
INTERMEDIATE DFD
• Intermediate and Elementary- must begin with verb
followed with noun
• Process must be numbered
• Label clearly all data flows, entities data store and
process
• Arrow from data flows must correct
• No crossing line allowed
05/01/24 18
DATA FLOW DIAGRAM DON’TS
1. BLACK HOLES
2. MIRACLES
3. Let it get too COMPLEX: 7 ± 2 processes
4. Leave things UNLABELED
(corollary: labels should have meaning)
5. Data stores that are “SOURCES” or
“SINKS”
6. Data flows that are UNASSOCIATED with
a PROCESS
7. Expect your diagram to be “perfect” the
first time! 05/01/24 19
DATA FLOW DIAGRAM DON’TS
process 1. ‘Black Hole’
stuff data goes into a process (or data
store) but doesn’t come out
process 2. ‘It’s a Miracle’
stuff a process produces output
with no input
05/01/24 20
DATA FLOW DIAGRAM DON’TS
ds-1
A.1
A.2 data
4. Leave Things Unlabeled
05/01/24 21
Corollary: Labels Should
DATA FLOW DIAGRAM DON’TS
data store 5. Miracle data
source
5. Black hole data
data store source
05/01/24 22
DATA FLOW DIAGRAM DON’TS
6. Data Flows Unassociated With a Process
entity to
data store entity
to entity -
or reverse
data store
to data 05/01/24 23
store
Data Flow Diagram Errors
• Incorrectly labeling data flow or objects
• Examples are
• Labels omitted from data flow or objects
• Data flow labeled with a verb
• Processes labeled with a noun
• Too many processes on a data flow diagram
• Nine is the suggested maximum
05/01/24 24
Data Flow Diagram Errors
• Omitting data flow from the diagram
• Unbalanced decomposition between a parent process
and a child diagram
• The data flow in and out of a parent process must be present on
the child diagram
05/01/24 25
Logical DFD Advantages
• Advantages of logical DFDs are
• Better communication with users
• More stable systems, since the design is based on a business
framework
• Increased understanding of the business by analysts
• The system will have increased flexibility and be easier to
maintain
• Elimination of redundancy
05/01/24 26
