What is a Data Flowchart?

A data flowchart, also known as a data flow diagram (DFD), visually represents how data moves through a system, from input to processing, storage, and output.

Imagine you're playing a video game online. When you press a button on your controller, that's an input. Your game console or computer has to process that input (like deciding what it means to press the "jump" button at this moment in the game), store or save data about your game (like where your character is and what they're doing), and then produce an output (like showing your character jumping on the screen).

A data flowchart for this might start with an oval labeled "Button Pressed", then have an arrow to a rectangle labeled "Process Input", an arrow from there to another rectangle labeled "Update Game Data", and then an arrow to another oval labeled "Display Output".

In a DFD, circles or ovals usually represent data sources and destinations. In contrast, arrows represent data flow, and rectangles (sometimes open-ended) represent processes that transform data from one form to another.

Data flowcharts are handy in fields like software development and information systems, where it's essential to understand how data is handled and transformed within a system.