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DFD (Data Flow Diagram)

The document discusses Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs), including their purpose and components. DFDs are used to visualize information flows within a system and can be represented through different levels of detail. The document also provides an example task for drawing DFDs to model a student registration system.

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Sadiholic
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22 views

DFD (Data Flow Diagram)

The document discusses Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs), including their purpose and components. DFDs are used to visualize information flows within a system and can be represented through different levels of detail. The document also provides an example task for drawing DFDs to model a student registration system.

Uploaded by

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

Introduction
• A picture is worth a thousand words. A Data Flow Diagram (DFD) is a
traditional way to visualize the information flows within a system.
• The flow of data of a system or a process is represented by DFD. It
also gives insight into the inputs and outputs of each entity and the
process itself.
• DFD does not have control flow and no loops or decision rules are
present. Specific operations depending on the type of data can be
explained by a flowchart.
Introduction
• It is a graphical tool, useful for communicating with users ,managers
and other personnel. it is useful for analyzing existing as well as
proposed system.
• A neat and clear DFD can depict a good amount of the system
requirements graphically. It can be manual, automated, or a
combination of both.
Introduction
• It should be pointed out that a DFD is not a flowchart. In drawing the
DFD, the designer has to specify the major transforms in the path of
the data flowing from the input to the output. DFDs can be
hierarchically organized, which helps in progressively partitioning and
analyzing large systems.

• It provides an overview of
• What data is system processes.
• What transformation are performed.
• What data are stored.
• What results are produced , etc.
Introduction
• Data Flow Diagram can be represented in several ways. The DFD
belongs to structured-analysis modeling tools.

• Data Flow diagrams are very popular because they help us to visualize
the major steps and data involved in software-system processes.
Types of DFDs
• There are two types of DFDs — logical and physical.

• Logical diagrams display the theoretical process of moving


information through a system, like where the data comes from, where
it goes, how it changes, and where it ends up.

• Physical diagrams show you the practical process of moving


information through a system. It can show how your system’s specific
software, hardware, files, employees, and customers influence the flow
of information.
Types of DFDs
• You can either use logical or physical diagrams to describe that flow
of information.

• You can also use them in conjunction to understand a process or


system on a more granular level.
DFD Diagram Notations
External Entity
• An external entity can represent a human, system or subsystem. It is
where certain data comes from or goes to.

• It is external to the system we study, in terms of the business process.


For this reason, people used to draw external entities on the edge of a
diagram.
DFD Diagram Notations
Process
• A process is a business activity or function where the manipulation
and transformation of data take place.

• A process can be decomposed to a finer level of details, for


representing how data is being processed within the process.
DFD Diagram Notations
Data Store
• A data store represents the storage of persistent data required and/or
produced by the process.
• Here are some examples of data stores: membership forms, database
tables, etc.
DFD Diagram Notations
Data Flow
• A data flow represents the flow of information, with its direction
represented by an arrowhead that shows at the end(s) of flow
connector.
DFD Levels
• DFDs can range from simple overviews to complex, granular
representations of a system or process with multiple levels, starting
with level 0.

• The most common and intuitive DFDs are level 0 DFDs, also called
context diagrams. They’re digestible, high-level overviews of the flow
of information through a system or process, so almost anyone can
understand it.
Level 0: Context Diagram
• This DFD level focuses on high-level system processes or functions
and the data sources that flow to or from them. Level 0 diagrams are
designed to be simple, straightforward overviews of a process or
system.
Level 1: Process Decomposition
• While level 1 DFDs are still
broad overviews of a system or
process, they’re also more
detailed — they break down
the system’s single process
node into subprocesses.
Level 2: Deeper Dives
• The next level of DFDs dives even deeper into detail by breaking down
each level 1 process into granular subprocesses.
Level 3: Increasing Complexity
• Level 3 and higher-numbered DFDs are uncommon.

• This is largely due to the amount of detail required, which defeats its
original purpose of being easy to understand.
Class Task
The university administration wants to develop a student registration
system to streamline the process of enrolling students in courses each
semester. The system should allow students to register for courses online,
track their academic progress, and generate reports for academic advisors
and department heads.

Task 1: Context-Level DFD


Draw a context-level Data Flow Diagram (DFD) for the proposed
student registration system. Identify external entities, processes, and data
flows involved in the system.
Class Task
Task 2: Level 0 DFD
Expand the context-level DFD to create a Level 0 DFD. Decompose the
main processes identified in the context-level DFD into more detailed
subprocesses. Identify data stores and data flows between processes.
Task 3: Level 1 DFDs
Create Level 1 DFDs for the following processes identified in the Level
0 DFD:
1. Process: Student Registration
- Subprocesses may include course selection, enrollment validation,
and fee payment.
Class Task
2. Process: Course Management
- Subprocesses may include course scheduling, instructor assignment,
and curriculum updates.

3. Process: Reporting
- Subprocesses may include generating student transcripts, enrollment
reports, and course evaluation summaries.

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