What term describes the flow of information and processing in a system?

The term that accurately describes the flow of information and processing in a system is "Data flow." Data flow refers to the movement of data between processes, storage locations, and the input/output elements of a system. It reflects how data is collected, processed, and finally delivered as output, illustrating the dynamic relationships and dependencies within a system.

Understanding data flow is crucial for designing efficient systems, as it helps identify the paths through which information travels and how processing occurs. Data flow can be represented graphically, often using flowcharts or data flow diagrams, which simplify the visualization of how data moves and transforms across different components.

In contrast, 'Information architecture' deals primarily with the structure and organization of information within a system rather than the dynamic flow of data. 'Process mapping' focuses on outlining the steps in a process and does not specifically address data movement. The 'Information lifecycle' refers to the stages that information goes through, from creation to disposal, and does not capture the flow of information within operational processes. Thus, data flow is the most appropriate term for describing the movement and processing of information within a system.