name: Salesforce Flow Vocabulary
description: >-
  Domain vocabulary and taxonomy for Salesforce Flow automation, covering
  key concepts, process types, statuses, and operational terminology used
  across the Salesforce Flow API.
version: "1.0"
created: "2026-05-02"
modified: "2026-05-02"
source: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.api_rest.meta/api_rest/resources_flow.htm

terms:
  - term: Flow
    definition: >-
      A Salesforce automation tool that collects data and performs actions in
      your Salesforce org or an external system. Flows can guide users through
      screens or run automatically in the background.
    aliases:
      - Screen Flow
      - Visual Workflow
    related:
      - Flow Builder
      - Process Builder

  - term: Flow Interview
    definition: >-
      A running instance of a Flow. When a flow is executed, a FlowInterview
      record is created to track the state, inputs, outputs, and current
      position in the flow.
    aliases:
      - Flow Instance
    related:
      - Flow
      - Pause

  - term: AutoLaunchedFlow
    definition: >-
      A type of flow that runs automatically without user interaction, often
      triggered by a record change, platform event, or invocable action call.
    aliases:
      - Autolaunched Flow
      - Background Flow
    related:
      - Invocable Action
      - Process Type

  - term: Invocable Action
    definition: >-
      A mechanism to trigger a Flow from Apex, Process Builder, another Flow,
      or via REST API by calling the /actions/custom/flow/{flowApiName} endpoint.
    aliases:
      - Flow Action
    related:
      - AutoLaunchedFlow
      - REST API

  - term: Flow Variable
    definition: >-
      A named value stored within a Flow interview. Variables can be Input
      (passed in at start), Output (returned at end), or Internal (used only
      within the flow).
    aliases:
      - Input Variable
      - Output Variable
    types:
      - Input
      - Output
      - Internal

  - term: ProcessType
    definition: >-
      The category of automation a Flow represents. Common types include Flow
      (screen flow), AutoLaunchedFlow (background), InvocableProcess, Workflow,
      and Orchestrator.
    values:
      - Flow
      - AutoLaunchedFlow
      - Workflow
      - InvocableProcess
      - CustomEvent
      - FieldServiceMobile
      - FieldServiceWeb
      - Survey
      - Orchestrator

  - term: Flow Status
    definition: >-
      The activation state of a Flow version. Active flows can be run; Obsolete
      flows are deactivated; Draft flows are in development; InvalidDraft flows
      have errors.
    values:
      - Active
      - Obsolete
      - Draft
      - InvalidDraft

  - term: Flow Element
    definition: >-
      An individual step or node within a Flow definition. Elements include
      Screens, Decisions, Loops, Assignments, Record operations, and Subflow
      references.
    types:
      - Screen
      - Decision
      - Loop
      - Assignment
      - Create Records
      - Update Records
      - Delete Records
      - Get Records
      - Subflow

  - term: Pause
    definition: >-
      A Flow element that suspends a Flow Interview until a specified condition
      is met (e.g., a time-based trigger or platform event). Paused interviews
      are stored as FlowInterview records.
    related:
      - Flow Interview
      - Resume

  - term: SOQL
    definition: >-
      Salesforce Object Query Language. Used to query Flow and FlowInterview
      records via the /query endpoint with SELECT statements.
    aliases:
      - Salesforce Object Query Language
    related:
      - Query
      - sObject

  - term: Run In Mode
    definition: >-
      The sharing and permission context in which a Flow executes. Options are
      DefaultMode (user permissions), SystemModeWithSharing (system with sharing
      rules), or SystemModeWithoutSharing (full access).
    values:
      - DefaultMode
      - SystemModeWithSharing
      - SystemModeWithoutSharing

  - term: Flow Builder
    definition: >-
      The Salesforce declarative tool for designing and building Flows. Accessed
      through Setup in the Salesforce UI.
    related:
      - Flow
      - Automation

categories:
  - name: Automation Types
    description: Categories of Salesforce automation related to Flow
    terms:
      - Flow
      - AutoLaunchedFlow
      - Workflow
      - InvocableProcess
      - Orchestrator

  - name: Execution Concepts
    description: Terms related to how flows run at runtime
    terms:
      - Flow Interview
      - Pause
      - Flow Variable
      - Flow Element

  - name: API Operations
    description: Key API operations for working with flows
    terms:
      - Invocable Action
      - SOQL
      - Flow Status