Data flow diagram

Data flow diagram is a well known approach to visualize the data processing in business analysis field. A data flow diagram is strong in illustrating the relationship of processes, data stores and external entities in business information system.
Business process diagram | Conversation diagram | Data flow diagram | EPC diagram | Process map diagram | Organization chart

Data flow diagram

Notation

 Process External Entity
 Data Store Data Flow
 Bidirectional Data Flow

Definition

Data flow diagram is a well known approach to visualize the data processing in business analysis field. A data flow diagram is strong in illustrating the relationship of processes, data stores and external entities in business information system.
 

Process

Definition

A process takes data as input, execute some steps and produce data as output.

Properties

NameThe name of process.
IDUsed to uniquely identify DFD elements.
LocationA physical location of the staff responsible to the process.
DocumentationUsed to annotate the process, such as descriptions and other documentation.
 

External Entity

Definition

Objects outside the system being modeled, and interact with processes in system.

Properties

NameThe name of external entity.
IDUsed to uniquely identify DFD elements.
DocumentationUsed to annotate the external entity, such as descriptions and other documentation.
 

Data Store

Definition

Files or storage of data that store data input and output from process.

Properties

NameThe name of data store.
IDUsed to uniquely identify DFD elements.
TypeThe type of data.
DocumentationUsed to annotate the data store, such as descriptions and other documentation.
 

Data Flow

Definition

The flow of data from process to process.

Properties

NameThe name of data flow.
IDUsed to uniquely identify DFD elements.
DocumentationUsed to annotate the data flow, such as descriptions and other documentation.
BidirectionalDetermines whether the flow of data is in both or single direction.
 

Bidirectional Data Flow

Definition

The flow of data that flow both from and to process.

Properties

NameThe name of data flow.
FromThe source of flow.
ToThe target of flow.
DocumentationUsed to annotate the data flow, such as descriptions and other documentation.
BidirectionalDetermines whether the flow of data is in both or single direction.
 
Definition of notations is quoted from Object Management Group Unified Modeling Language (OMG UML) Superstructure Version 2.2 and former versions (for notations that do not exist anymore in latest specification).
 
Business process diagram | Conversation diagram | Data flow diagram | EPC diagram | Process map diagram | Organization chart
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