Question

The Data Flow Diagram (DFD) is considered a "process diagram" What does this mean? What is a process flow diagram? What is its purpose?

Answer 1

The Data Flow Diagram (DFD) is considered a "process diagram". It means that the data flow diagram consists of activities, events, and gateways used to represent the sequence of flow of data in the system. DFD is considered as a process diagram as it fulfils all the properties of a process diagram.

Process Flow Diagram: PFD or process flow diagram can be defined as a special type of flowchart which explains the relationships among all the components of the system. It is a picture of the different steps of a process represented in sequential order.

Purpose of a data flow diagram:

(i) It is used to graphically represent the flow of data in an information system.

(ii) It is used to describe the system's boundaries.

(iii) It is used to describe how data moves among several layers unique to a specific process.

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