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Use a visual workflow when each step must receive predictable inputs and failures need explicit handling. Build and test the smallest complete path before adding loops or retries.

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Preserve data types

An upstream field binding preserves its type. Use it to pass an array into For each, a number into a comparison, or an object into an HTTP body. A text template always produces text, even when its value looks like JSON. For an HTTP response, declare the output fields you need, such as json.items as an array. A sample helps discover fields but does not guarantee that every response contains them. Add an optional binding or fallback for values produced only by one conditional branch.

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Example: process a list and summarize it

  1. Start with a manual trigger while developing.
  2. Add an HTTP step that fetches a JSON list and declare its array output.
  3. Bind the array to For each.
  4. Connect Each item to the body and select the body nodes in the inspector.
  5. Use the loop’s item and index as inputs, and configure collected outputs.
  6. Connect Done to a summary step using iterationOutputs.
Items run sequentially. An empty array follows Done with an empty result. Nested loops are not supported.

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Retry only recoverable failures

Wrap transient failures in Retry. Connect Attempt to the selected body, Succeeded to the normal next step, and Exhausted to the failure path. Configure the errors that should retry; malformed input usually needs correction, not repetition. The defaults are three attempts, a one-second initial delay, exponential backoff, and jitter. The maximum is ten attempts. Retry bodies cannot contain another Retry or For each region. A retry can repeat an external action. For an HTTP POST, use an idempotency key only when the destination supports and honors it. For email, Slack, AI, and other non-idempotent actions, review and enable Acknowledge duplicate risk where required.

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Test the failure paths

Use mock outputs to test success, an empty list, a missing required field, a branch that is skipped, and retry exhaustion. Run a small live test only after checking destinations and credentials. Live tests can send messages or write to external systems. Publish after inspecting the results. If a live run needs attention, check whether the external action completed before retrying it. See Visual workflows for versioning, cancellation, and limits.