DATA FLOW
The flow of data through the system.
Data Flow Diagram (DFD)
Maps out the flow of information for any process or system.
It uses defined symbols
Rectangles
Circles
Arrows
Short Text Labels
Can be used to analyze EXISTING system or model NEW one.
“say” things that are hard to explain in words.
works both technical – nontechnical audiences (developer to CEO)
Symbols &
Notations
■ Yourdon and Coad and Yourdon and
DeMarco uses CIRCLES for processes
Symbols named after their creators:
■ Gane and Sarson uses RECTANGLES
WITH ROUNDED CORNERS “lozenges”
Yourdon and Coad for process
Yourdon and DeMarco
Gane and Sarson
4 COMPONENTS OF
DFD
Symbols depicts using any conventions of DFD rules or guidelines.
1. External ■ Yourdon and Coad
Entity
an outside system that sends
or receives data.
the sources and destinations ■ Gane and Sarson
of information of the system.
also known as terminators,
sources, sinks, or actors.
Typically drawn on the edges
of the diagram.
2. Process ■ Yourdon and Coad
any process that changes
the data, producing an output.
Might perform calculations ■ Gane and Sarson
or sort data
Short label is used to
describe the process.
3. Data Store ■ Yourdon and Coad
files or repositories that
hold information for later use
(database table) ■ Gane and Sarson
Receives a simple label.
(“orders”)
4. Data Flow ■ Yourdon and Coad
the route that data takes
between external entities,
processes and data stores. ■ Gane and Sarson
Shown with arrows
DFD RULES AND
TIPS
1. Each process should have at least 1 input and an
output.
2. Each data store should have at least 1 data flow in
and 1 data flow out.
3. Data stored in a system must go through a process.
4. All process in a DFD go to another process or a data
store.
DFD Levels and Layers
■ DFD Level 0
– Also called the Context Diagram or Diagram 0
– Basic overview of the whole system
– Show system as a single high-level process.
Fill out patient info form Patient Information
Billing and Check Up Lab Results, Findings and
Result Medications,
Outpatient Recommendations
Patient
Management Doctor
Payment
Summary Report
Receipt
DFD Levels and Layers
■ DFD Level 1
– Provides a more detailed breakout of pieces of the Context Diagram
– Highlight the main functions carried out by the system.
Pre- Patient_info
Billing
check up
Patient stat
Billing
and
Claims
Checked Receipts
and
Report
Recom-
mends Patient_records
Doctor
DFD Levels and Layers
■ DFD Level 2
- then goes one step deeper into parts of Level 1.
- may require more text to reach the necessary level of detail
about the system’s functioning.
■ Progression to Levels 3, 4 and beyond is possible, but going
beyond Level 3 is uncommon.
HISTORY OF DFD
Data Flow Graph in 1970s
Edward
Yourdon
Computer Pioneer, author
of the book ”Structured
Design”
With Peter Coad for
Object Oriented Analysis
and Design
Chris Gane
Computer Pioneer, author
of the book ”Structured
Design”
With Trish Sarson were
experts contributing the
rise of DFD
