Structured analysis and design technique

For the chemical reaction SADT, see Self Accelerating Decomposition Temperature

SADT (Structured Analysis and Design Technique) is a Software Engineering technique for describing systems as a hierarchy of functions

Techniques

SADT uses two types of diagrams: activity models and data models. It uses arrows to build this diagrams.

The Semantics of Arrows

For activities: Inputs are data that are consumed by the activity. Outputs are produced by the activity. Controls influence the execution of an activity but are not consumed.

For data: Inputs are activities that produce the data. Outputs consume the data. Controls influence the internal state of the data.