Which modeling technique shows the life cycle of a data entity?

The state diagram is a powerful modeling technique that specifically illustrates the life cycle of a data entity by showing the various states that the entity can be in throughout its existence, along with the transitions between those states. In this context, "states" refer to conditions or situations that the entity can occupy at any given time. The transitions highlight how and why the entity moves from one state to another, typically triggered by specific events or actions. This visualization helps stakeholders understand the dynamic aspects of the data entity, such as how it evolves over time and how it responds to certain stimuli.

Using a state diagram is particularly valuable in scenarios where data integrity, processing states, and workflow management are critical, and it can help in designing systems that need to manage various data states effectively. In contrast, while flowcharts and process maps show workflows and processes or sequences of steps, they do not capture the life cycle and state transitions of a data entity. Entity relationship diagrams focus on the relationships between different entities without detailing their individual life cycles. Thus, the state diagram is the most fitting choice for representing the life cycle of a data entity.