What is a Flow?
A flow is a visual automation built by connecting nodes into a directed graph. Each node performs a specific operation, and connections define how data moves through the process. Key Benefits:- Visual design for complex automation logic
- Clear data flow and dependencies
- Built-in error handling and recovery
- Real-time execution monitoring
- Comprehensive analytics and observability
Flows are blueprints for automation—showing how operations connect and work together to accomplish tasks.
What are Flows Used For?
Flows enable you to build sophisticated AI automation without writing code.Data Processing Pipelines
Data Processing Pipelines
- Extract, transform, and load data
- Process documents and files
- Integrate multiple data sources
- Generate reports and analytics
AI-Powered Automation
AI-Powered Automation
- Text generation and analysis
- Image processing and vision tasks
- Multi-step AI reasoning
- Structured data extraction
Business Process Automation
Business Process Automation
- Workflow orchestration
- Approval processes
- Notification systems
- Scheduled tasks
Integration Workflows
Integration Workflows
- Connect multiple services and APIs
- Sync data between systems
- Webhook processing
- Event-driven automation
Key Features
Visual Design
Drag-and-drop interface for building complex logic without code
Type Safety
Automatic validation ensures data compatibility between nodes
Real-Time Testing
Test flows with sample data and inspect outputs at each step
Error Handling
Built-in error handling and recovery mechanisms
Scalability
Flows scale automatically based on demand
Observability
Complete execution logs, metrics, and analytics
When to Use Flows
- Use Flows When
- Consider Agents When
- You need visual, no-code automation
- Multiple steps or operations required
- Data transformation is needed
- Integration with external services
- Scheduled or triggered execution
- Team collaboration on automation
Flow Components
Flows are built from several key components:| Component | Description | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Nodes | Individual operations | AI processing, data transformation, logic control |
| Connections | Data flow between nodes | Type validation and data routing |
| Inputs | Entry points for data | Pass data into the flow |
| Outputs | Results returned | Extract results from the flow |
| Triggers | Events that start execution | Schedule, webhook, API calls |
| Subflows | Reusable flows | Modular components within flows |
Learn More About Flows
Complete guide to flows and their capabilities