In a data flow diagram (DFD), what is the higher-level diagram referred to as when a process is exploded?

In the context of data flow diagrams (DFDs), the term for a higher-level diagram from which a process is exploded is called a parent diagram. This parent diagram provides an overview of the system's processes and data flows and serves as the foundational representation. When a specific process within this diagram is expanded or detailed further, it creates a lower-level diagram that illustrates the internal workings of that process.

Understanding the relationship between the parent and child diagrams is crucial for systems analysis, as it helps in visualizing how various components of the system interact and how data moves through different processes. The use of "parent" effectively signifies that this diagram encapsulates broader functions that are subsequently granularized in its exploded forms.

The other terms do not accurately describe this relationship in DFD terminology. The concept of a father or root diagram is not standard in systems analysis, and a source diagram typically refers to the origin of data rather than a hierarchical relationship in the context of DFDs.