DATA FLOW ANALYSIS
\dˈe͡ɪtə flˈə͡ʊ ɐnˈaləsˌɪs], \dˈeɪtə flˈəʊ ɐnˈaləsˌɪs], \d_ˈeɪ_t_ə f_l_ˈəʊ ɐ_n_ˈa_l_ə_s_ˌɪ_s]\
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A process to discover the dependencies betweendifferent data items manipulated by a program. The order ofexecution in a data driven language is determined solely bythe data dependencies. For example, given the equations1. X = A + B2. B = 2 + 23. A = 3 + 4a data-flow analysis would find that 2 and 3 must be evaluatedbefore 1. Since there are no data dependencies between 2 and3, they may be evaluated in any order, including in parallel.This technique is implemented in hardware in somepipelined processors with multiple functional units. Itallows instructions to be executed as soon as their inputs areavailable, independent of the original program order.
By Denis Howe