Editing Data-flow diagram (section)

== DFD components ==
[[File:Data-flow-diagram-notation.svg|alt=Data flow diagram - Yourdon/DeMarco notation|thumb|''Data flow diagram - [[Edward Yourdon|Yourdon]]/[[Tom DeMarco|DeMarco]] notation'']]
DFD consists of processes, flows, warehouses, and terminators. There are several ways to view these DFD components.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Analýza a návrh informačních systémů|last=Řepa|first=Václav|date=1999|publisher=Ekopress|isbn=978-8086119137|edition= Vyd. 1|location=Praha|oclc=43612982}}</ref>

'''Process'''

The process (function, transformation) is part of a system that transforms inputs to outputs. The  symbol of a process is a circle, an oval, a rectangle or a rectangle with rounded corners (according to the type of notation). The process is named in one word, a short sentence, or a phrase that is clearly to express its essence.<ref name=":1" />

'''Data flow'''

Data flow (flow, dataflow) shows the transfer of information (sometimes also material) from one part of the system to another. The symbol of the flow is the arrow. The flow should have a name that determines what information (or what material) is being moved. Exceptions are flows where it is clear what information is transferred through the entities that are linked to these flows. Material shifts are modeled in systems that are not merely informative. Flow should only transmit one type of information (material). The arrow shows the flow direction (it can also be bi-directional if the information to/from the entity is logically dependent—e.g. question and answer). Flows link processes, warehouses and terminators.<ref name=":1" />

'''Warehouse'''

The warehouse (datastore, data store, file, database) is used to store data for later use. The symbol of the store is two horizontal lines, the other way of view is shown in the DFD Notation. The name of the warehouse is a plural noun (e.g. orders)—it derives from the input and output streams of the warehouse. The warehouse does not have to be just a data file but can also be, for example, a folder with documents, a filing cabinet, or a set of optical discs. Therefore, viewing the warehouse in a DFD is independent of implementation. The flow from the warehouse usually represents reading of the data stored in the warehouse, and the flow to the warehouse usually expresses data entry or updating (sometimes also deleting data). The warehouse is represented by two parallel lines between which the memory name is located (it can be modeled as a UML buffer node).<ref name=":1" />

'''Terminator'''

The terminator is an external entity that communicates with the system and stands outside of the system. It can be, for example, various organizations (e.g. a bank), groups of people (e.g. customers), authorities (e.g. a tax office) or a department (e.g. a human-resources department) of the same organization, which does not belong to the model system. The terminator may be another system with which the modeled system communicates.<ref name=":1" />