What is data flow?
LabVIEW uses a patented dataflow programming model that frees you from the sequential architecture of text-based programming languages. The graphical code is highly intuitive for engineers and scientists familiar with block diagrams and flowcharts. The flow of data between nodes – not sequential lines of text – determines the execution order in LabVIEW, so you easily can create block diagrams that execute multiple operations in parallel. Additionally, the parallel nature of LabVIEW simplifies implementation of applications that include multitasking and multithreading. Using the debugging tools available in LabVIEW, you can also watch as data moves through a program and see precisely which data passes from one function to another along the wires, a process known as execution highlighting. This differs from text-based languages, which require you to step from function to function to trace your program execution.
