--- sourceDocument: Australia Build workflows sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/build-workflows Release : - australia ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Australia Build workflows ft:clusterId : - crworkflow bundleId : - crworkflow workflow : - Creator --- # Flows, subflows, and actions reference # Flows, subflows, and actions reference {#ariaid-title1} * Release version: Australia * * Updated March 12, 2026 * * ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 1 minute to read Get details about Workflow Studio flow components like actions, flow logic, and properties. {#flow-designer-reference__table_qqb_r42_w1c__entry__2} | Workflow Studio component | Available references | |-|-| | Flows | * [Types of flows and when to use them](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/K5qH4ycUTkegvqmu7Z_2MQ "A decision matrix and basic definitions help you determine what type of flows to create.") * [Workflow Studio flow trigger types](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/Soppqn4o7y_LAxzJX99Zpw "Each trigger type defines when a flow starts and the starting data available to it. There are triggers for record operations, dates, and application operations.​") * [Workflow Studio actions](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/4JCQnBQbD0FTnlV6~TKsRA "Actions can be added to any flow, enabling process analysts to automate ServiceNow AI Platform features without having to write code.") * [Workflow Studio flow logic](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/gGf7lZd7I23S2fZ_g_SRwA "Enable flows and subflows to specify conditional or repeated actions. Combine the elements of flow logic to create workflows in a graphical interface with little or no scripting.") * [User preferences for flows](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/3jnWFAmktUE0C0bhnwyQAg "Enable or disable user preferences for flow to change options available to Workflow Studio.") {#flow-designer-reference__ul_tz4_cp2_w1c} | | Subflows | * [Types of flows and when to use them](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/K5qH4ycUTkegvqmu7Z_2MQ "A decision matrix and basic definitions help you determine what type of flows to create.") * [Workflow Studio actions](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/4JCQnBQbD0FTnlV6~TKsRA "Actions can be added to any flow, enabling process analysts to automate ServiceNow AI Platform features without having to write code.") * [Workflow Studio flow logic](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/gGf7lZd7I23S2fZ_g_SRwA "Enable flows and subflows to specify conditional or repeated actions. Combine the elements of flow logic to create workflows in a graphical interface with little or no scripting.") * [User preferences for flows](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/3jnWFAmktUE0C0bhnwyQAg "Enable or disable user preferences for flow to change options available to Workflow Studio.") {#flow-designer-reference__ul_jxs_3p2_w1c} | | Actions | * [Workflow Studio input and output data variables](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/Ct3dsJ0IiWIcbamXVRVy2g "Actions and subflows use variables to store input and output data. The variable data type determines what kind of data it stores and its advanced configuration options.") * [Workflow Studio steps](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/~OUf9nh1PRjjc4Dtb7NVXQ "A step performs a single operation in an action. You can use Workflow Studio to add steps to a custom action.") * [Supported Service Catalog variable types](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/1SqT5~c1IlQNNWjUm7AXRg "Workflow Studio supports several Service Catalog variable types for both single-row and multi-row variable sets.") {#flow-designer-reference__ul_bx3_gp2_w1c} | | All | * [General guidelines for Workflow Studio flows, subflows, and actions](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/tHgBLVMU0OeZ4cSzIqI4mQ "Create, run, troubleshoot, and monitor your Workflow Studio components more effectively. Use these guidelines to optimize the performance of your Workflow Studio components.") * [Transform functions](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/Rnk38vm3sLblAarQEQ9Kzg "Transform data pill values without the need to write a script. Use transform functions to reformat text, perform mathematical calculations, sanitize potentially unsafe SQL statements, and serialize complex objects to raw XML.") * [Workflow Studio flow integrations](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/EDZcjftoONlc0RW63zbktQ "Expand the capabilities of Workflow Studio flows with additional subscriptions and spokes.") * [Workflow Studio flow system properties](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/QISjE_DknwhS_u_mrxbXbQ "Configure how the system processes flows.") {#flow-designer-reference__ul_frf_w42_w1c} | [Table 1. Available references by component type] {#flow-designer-reference__table_qqb_r42_w1c} * **[General guidelines for Workflow Studio flows, subflows, and actions](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/tHgBLVMU0OeZ4cSzIqI4mQ)** Create, run, troubleshoot, and monitor your Workflow Studio components more effectively. Use these guidelines to optimize the performance of your Workflow Studio components. * **[Workflow Studio actions](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/4JCQnBQbD0FTnlV6~TKsRA)** Actions can be added to any flow, enabling process analysts to automate ServiceNow AI Platform features without having to write code. * **[Workflow Studio flow logic](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/gGf7lZd7I23S2fZ_g_SRwA)** Enable flows and subflows to specify conditional or repeated actions. Combine the elements of flow logic to create workflows in a graphical interface with little or no scripting. * **[Workflow Studio flow integrations](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/EDZcjftoONlc0RW63zbktQ)** Expand the capabilities of Workflow Studio flows with additional subscriptions and spokes. * **[Workflow Studio flow system properties](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/QISjE_DknwhS_u_mrxbXbQ)** Configure how the system processes flows. * **[Workflow Studio flow trigger types](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/Soppqn4o7y_LAxzJX99Zpw)** Each trigger type defines when a flow starts and the starting data available to it. There are triggers for record operations, dates, and application operations. * **[Workflow Studio input and output data variables](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/Ct3dsJ0IiWIcbamXVRVy2g)** Actions and subflows use variables to store input and output data. The variable data type determines what kind of data it stores and its advanced configuration options. * **[Workflow Studio steps](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/~OUf9nh1PRjjc4Dtb7NVXQ)** A step performs a single operation in an action. You can use Workflow Studio to add steps to a custom action. * **[User preferences for flows](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/3jnWFAmktUE0C0bhnwyQAg)** Enable or disable user preferences for flow to change options available to Workflow Studio. * **[User roles for conversational subflows and actions](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/QWc9s_ULzo08b3SFcXlSJg)** Provide personnel with one or more user roles to grant them access to conversational subflows and actions. * **[Supported input data types for conversational subflows and actions](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/Bu6GAzJjEjOcHsXhkuBDhQ)** Conversational subflows and actions support a limited number of input data types. To be compatible with conversational interfaces, an action or a subflow must only include inputs that use supported data types. * **[Supported Service Catalog variable types](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/1SqT5~c1IlQNNWjUm7AXRg)** Workflow Studio supports several Service Catalog variable types for both single-row and multi-row variable sets. * **[Transform functions](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/Rnk38vm3sLblAarQEQ9Kzg)** Transform data pill values without the need to write a script. Use transform functions to reformat text, perform mathematical calculations, sanitize potentially unsafe SQL statements, and serialize complex objects to raw XML. * **[Types of flows and when to use them](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/K5qH4ycUTkegvqmu7Z_2MQ)** A decision matrix and basic definitions help you determine what type of flows to create.