10.1 Introduction


Data flow analysis is a structured systems analysis and design technique that is used in software engineering
to collect certain pieces of information at different parts of a computer program application.
The Data Flow Graph (DFG) and Control Flow Graph (CFG) of a program are used to establish the parts of
the program in which a variable is given a particular value.
Data flow analysis uses the data flow diagram approach, which is considered to be the most popular method
available for systems analysis and design.
This lecture presents the data flow analysis technique and approach and its basics, principles and how it is
used in software system development process.