FigJam

Level up your level 2 data flow diagram with a customizable template

In the world of data flow diagrams (DFDs), the “level” corresponds to the amount of detail. The higher the number, the more in-depth the diagram goes.

All data flow diagrams (DFDs) outline processes or systems in a series of steps. As you increase the “level” counter, you start to break each step down into sub-steps. A level 1 data flow diagram might list a processing step as “Place Order,” while a DFD level 2 diagram example would break that step into “Shopping Cart,” “Delivery Data,” and so on.

A level 1 data flow diagram is a less nuanced graphical representation of a level 2 DFD. The main “ideas” will all have sub-processes, but the information within each section will be less granular—there are no sub-sub-processes. In short, you’ll need a magnifying glass, not a microscope.

The simplest DFD, then, is at level 0. What is a level 0 diagram, you ask? Sometimes called a “context diagram,” these illustrations present the entire system or process as a single set of points. They remain high-level, making information quick and easy to relay when looking at a structured systems analysis.

On the surface, data flow diagrams can feel dense. Search for a DFD level 2 tutorial, and you’ll inevitably have to read about the different rules and methods set by its inventors in the 1970s. But, in reality, all you need to create a level 2 DFD is a series of shapes, connectors, and individuals who understand the entire system and information flow.

With a FigJam whiteboard, all the guessing around squares, circles, and arrows is gone. Everything is already there for you—and it all snaps to the grid. You bring the experts, we’ll bring the shared interface for boundless creativity.