How to Create a Data Flow Diagram

Data Flow Diagrams (DFD) helps identifying business processes. At its simplest, a data flow diagram shows how data flows through a system. It displays where the data comes from and go to as well as where it will be stored. Data Flow Diagram (DFD) can be used to visualize data flows in information systems. DFD consists of four major components: entities, processes, data stores, and data flows. The set of standard symbols is used to depict how these components interact in a system. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM allows you to draw a simple and clear Data Flow Diagram using special libraries, provided by Data Flow Diagrams Solution.

1. Open a ConceptDraw DIAGRAM new document and select the Data Flow Diagram library.

2. Drag and drop the following DFD elements from the library to your document:
   
   Processes and functions
   
   External entities
   
   Data depositories
   
   
3. Use connectors on Mac or PC to show the direction of data flow. In our case, we use the Arc connector. To add a text to connector select it and start typing.

4. Use the Format panel to edit objects, text and even connectors.

Result: Data Flow diagram (DFD) represents a data flow in the information system and used for analysis of data processing during the structural projection.