DFD ( Data Flow Diagram )

Every physical company or organization is established to perform a set of related functions

and provides services to their dependents or customer/consumer etc. To perform a function it
requires data as input and after performing function it generates multiple reports which help it
to evaluate performance of the system. As system grows its functional complexity is also
increased. To handle system complexity, functions are divided into multiple departments. The
main and primary objective of every company or business is customer satisfaction and growth
of system. It requires speed, accuracy, reliability, communication etc.

Computer can fulfill such requirements so every business moves towards automation of
system i.e. computerized system. It requires software which is developed using different
models like Waterfall Model, Incremental Model, RAD (Rapid Application Development) Model
etc.

To develop software for a particular organization, a developer needs to understand the

requirements of that organization because different organization uses different methods and
format to perform same function. This process of examining the system is known as Analysis.
After analysis developer generates a report to deliver requirement implementation to the user
(company).

We know that graphical or visual representation is better than thousands of words. So

developer uses some graphical tools to define organizational functions. DFD is one of them.

DFD is the abbreviation for Data Flow Diagram. The DFD is Structured-Analysis Modeling
Tools which provides good communication between user and system developer. It is a
graphical representation which is used to define the flow of data among different entity,
modules and processes. It also provides a view of inputs and outputs of each entity and the
process. It shows the functions (processes), which take, manipulate, store, and distribute
data.

Rules for designing DFD

 The name of the entity should be Unique.

 The processes should be numbered and has a unique name as function.
 The DFD should maintain consistency across all the DFD levels.
 No two entities have direct relation without process.
 An entity can’t save/retrieve data from file without process.
 No two lines cross each other.
 Each flow line must have some data that it carries.
 A process must have some input and output.

Components of DFD

The Data Flow Diagram has 4 components:

 Process
process represents function which transforms Input to output. The symbols of a process
are rectangular with rounded corners, oval or a circle.

 Data Flow Lines

Data flow describes the information transferring between different functional parts of the
systems like module, process. The arrow symbol is the symbol of data flow.

 File or storage
The data is stored in the file for future use. Two horizontal lines or one side opened
rectangular box represent the symbol of the store. It can be a folder with documents,
physical storage media.

 Entity or Entity set

An entity is an abject of an organization that is responsible for performing functions. It can
be external or internal components of the system like employee, customer etc. A
rectangular box is used to represents entity or entity set.

Symbols used to represents components of DFD

Yourdon & De Marco

Components Gane & Sarson Notation
Notation

Entity or Entity Set Entity Name Entity Name

Process No.

Process Process Process Name

Name

File Name
File or Storage File Name

Data Flow Lines

Advantages of DFD

 It helps us to understand the functionality of a system.

 It is a graphical representation which is very easy to understand.
 Data Flow Diagram represent detailed and well explained diagram of system components.

Levels of DFD

 0 Level DFD or Context Diagram

 1 Level DFD
 2 Level DFD

0 Level DFD or Context Diagram

0 level DFD is also known as Context Diagram. It is the basic level of DFD which defines whole
system at a glance. It explains external interface to the system so it is also known as Bird’s Eye View.
It provides system level view.

Ex. Interview System

ApplicationForm
Candidate

INTERVIEW
Admin
InterviewLetter SYSTEM InterviewLetter

Call/RejectionLetter
Call/RejectionLetter

1 Level DFD

1 level DFD is designed to define overall system functionality like how many modules or processes
are used in this system? , interrelationship among modules , data exchange among different
processes etc. It provides overall system functionality view.
1 Level DFD
2 Level DFD

2 level DFD is designed to explain each component of 1st level DFD in which process is complex and
performs more than one functions. So 2nd level DFD contains multiple DFD. It provides module
functionality view.

1. Login Process