DEFINITION

 A data flow diagram (DFD) is a graphical

representation of the "flow" of data through a
computer system.
OR
 A data flow diagram looks at how data flows through a
system.
 It concerns things like where the data will come from
and go to as well as where it will be stored.
 But you won't find information about the processing
timing (e.g. whether the processes happen in sequence or
in parallel).
 Flow chart shows “flow of Control “ .
 DFD shows “ flow of Data
 The flowchart describes boxes that describe
computations, decisions, interactions & loops.
 It is important to keep in mind that data flow
diagrams are not flowcharts and should not
include control elements .
 DFD COMPONENTS
Data Flow Diagrams are composed of the four basic
symbols shown below:-
1)External Entity:-

 The sharp cornered rectangles(or simply boxes) in a

DFD indicates entities.

 The External Entity symbol represents sources of data

to the system or destinations of data from the system.

 Entities are people things, organizations etc

Entity
 Doctor

Student
Cashier

Teacher
Manager

Customer User
 The rounded cornered rectangles in a DFD indicate

processes

 The Process symbol represents an activity that

transforms or manipulates the data (combines, reorders,

converts, etc.).

Process
Accounting System Grading System

Reservation System

Patient
Marketing System Administration
System
 Opened sided rectangles in DFD indicates data store.

 The Data Store symbol represents data that is not moving

(delayed data at rest).

 A Data Store is a repository of data.

 Data can be written into the data store. This is depicted by

an incoming arrow.

 Two data stores cannot be connected by a data flow.

 Data can be read from a data store. This is depicted by an
outgoing arrow.

External entity cannot read or write to the data store.

4) Data Flow:-
 Arrow symbol in DFD indicate data flow
 The Data Flow symbol represents movement of data
 EXAMPLE
1
This diagram represents a
banking process, which maintains
customer accounts.
 In this example, customers can withdraw or deposit
cash, request information about their account or
update their account details.

 The five different symbols used in this example

represent the full set of symbols required to draw
any business process diagram.
Level 0 DFD
• The level 0 DFD (also known as the context
level DFD ) is the simplest DFD.
• The outermost level (Level 0) is concerned with
how the system interacts with the outside world.
• This level basically represents the input and
output of the entire system.
1. Identify your main system

2. Identify the external people who interact with the

system

3. Decide what data these entities will enter into the

system

4. Determine what these entities expect as output from

the system
 ORDER
CUSTOMER ORDER PROCESSING

DELIVERY
 The basic module of the system are represented in

this phase and how data moves through different

module is shown.

 The level 1 DFD provides a high –level view of the

system that identifies the major processes and data

stores.
1. Focus on your process and break it into 2 or more sub-

processes

2. Identify what data flows between these processes and

between the entities

3. Identify What permanent data files are used in this

system

4. Note that no new entities can be introduced

 Order

CUSTOMER SALES PROCESSING

Delivery

Credit
Order
Status
Order
CUSTOMER
DATABASE Credit ORDERS
Status
ACCOUNTING
Customer SYSTEM
no.
Each process from level 1 is exploded even more into sub

processes. This decomposition continues for each level.

The number of levels possible depends on the complexity

of the system
1. With a dataf low diagram, users are able to visualize
how the system will operate, what the system will
accomplish, and how the system will be implemented
2. Data f low diagrams can be used to provide the end
user with physical idea of how the data they input
ultimately has an effect upon the structure of the
whole system.
3. The old system’s dataf low diagrams can also be
drawn up and compared with the new system’s
dataf low diagrams to draw comparisons in order to
help implement a more efficient system.
 1) In a DFD external entities are represented by
a______
a. Rectangle
b. Ellipse
c. diamond shaped box
d. Circle

A

2) External Entities may be a_________

a. source of input data only
b. source of input data or destination of results
c. destination of results only
d. repository of data

B
3) A data store in a DFD represents
a. a sequential file
b. a disk store
c. a repository of data
d. a random access memory

C
4) A data cannot flow between a store and
(i) a store
(ii)a process
(iii)an external entity
a. i and iii
b. i and ii
c. ii and iii
d. ii

A
5) Data cannot flow from an external entity to an
external entity because

a. it will get corrupted

b. it is not allowed in DFD
c. an external entity has no mechanism to read or write
d. both are outside the context of the system

 D

6) A data flow can

a. only enter a data store
b. only leave a data store
c. enter or leave a data store
d. either enter or leave a data store but not both

C
 Quantity
Quantity
Cost/unit

Billing
Billing
Process
Process

Discount
Discount

 A
 Order to Out of
vendor stock

Billing
Proces

Too much
stock
 B
 B
10) By leveling a DFD we mean
a. splitting it into different levels
b. make its structure uniform
c. expanding a process into one with more sub -processes giving more
detail
d. summarizing a DFD to specify only the essentials

 C
 B
12) Data flow in a DFD must have
(i) an arrow showing direction of flow of data
(ii)a meaningful name
(iii)a label such as: xyz
(iv)no arrows as they are confusing
a. i and iii
b. ii and iv
c. iii and iv

 A
A general DFD for an airline reservation system
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_Data_Flow
http://www.visual-paradigm.com/product/bpva/tutorials/dfd.jsp
http://www.civil.utm.my/staff/file/141/file/CIMLectureNotes2011.pdf
http://spot.colorado.edu/~kozar/DFDtechnique.html
http://www.f bk.eur.nl/PRJ/MEETEYEES/dfd.htm
Http://ratandon.mysite.syr.edu/cis453/notes/DFD_over_Flowcharts.
pdf
http://www.slideshare.net/mohit4192/dfd-examples
http://ecourses.vtu.ac.in/nptel/courses/Webcoursecontents/IIScBAN
G/System%20Analysis%20and%20Design/pdf/module5.pdf
Submitted by
Nidhi Sharma
8503