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Module 3: Software Design & Metrics

20252m

In a Data Flow Diagram (DFD), which symbol represents an external entity?

(i) Circle
(ii) Arrow
(iii) Open rectangle
(iv) Double line

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Answer: (iii) Open rectangle

In a Data Flow Diagram (DFD) (Yourdon/DeMarco notation):

  • (iii) Open rectangle (square/box with three closed sides) represents an external entity — a source or sink of data outside the system boundary (person, department, external system).
  • (i) Circle (or rounded rectangle in Gane-Sarson) represents a process/transform.
  • (ii) Arrow represents a data flow.
  • (iv) Double line / two parallel lines represents a data store.

Hence the symbol for an external entity in a DFD is the open rectangle — option (iii).

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