Workflow Nodes

Nodes are the building blocks of workflows. Each node performs a specific function and can be connected to other nodes to create automation sequences.

Node Anatomy

Every node has:

┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│  ○ Input Handle(s)                  │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│  [Icon]  Node Name                  │
│  Description text...                │
│  ⚙️ Configured / ⚠️ Not configured │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│                    Output Handle(s) ○│
└─────────────────────────────────────┘

• Input Handles: Where data flows in (left side)
• Output Handles: Where data flows out (right side)
• Configuration: Node-specific settings
• Category Badge: Visual indicator of node type

Node Categories

Triggers (Green)

Triggers start workflow execution. Every workflow needs at least one trigger.

Characteristics:

• No input handles (they start the flow)
• One or more output handles
• Provide initial data to the workflow
• Marked as is_entry_point in database

Actions (Blue)

Actions perform operations - send emails, make API calls, update records.

Characteristics:

• One input handle
• One output handle
• May have side effects (sending emails, HTTP requests)
• Can be async (delays, waiting for responses)

Conditions (Yellow)

Conditions branch the workflow based on logic.

Characteristics:

• One input handle
• Multiple output handles (one per branch)
• Evaluate input data against rules
• Output includes _branch indicator

Transformers (Purple)

Transformers modify data without side effects.

Characteristics:

• One input handle
• One output handle
• Pure functions (same input = same output)
• Used for data mapping, filtering, formatting

---

Built-in Nodes Reference

Manual Trigger

Identifier: workflows:manual-trigger Category: Trigger

Starts workflow when user clicks Run or calls the execute API.

Configuration:

Field	Type	Description
sampleData	object	Sample data for testing

Output:

{
  "trigger_type": "manual",
  "triggered_at": "2025-01-16T10:00:00Z",
  "triggered_by": "user-uuid",
  ...triggerData
}

---

Schedule Trigger

Identifier: workflows:schedule-trigger Category: Trigger

Runs workflow on a cron schedule.

Configuration:

Field	Type	Description	Example
cron	string	Cron expression	0 9 * * * (daily at 9am)
timezone	string	Timezone for schedule	Asia/Kolkata

Common Cron Patterns:

* * * * *      Every minute
0 * * * *      Every hour
0 9 * * *      Daily at 9:00 AM
0 9 * * 1      Every Monday at 9:00 AM
0 0 1 * *      First day of month at midnight
*/15 * * * *   Every 15 minutes

Output:

{
  "trigger_type": "schedule",
  "scheduled_time": "2025-01-16T09:00:00Z",
  "cron": "0 9 * * *"
}

---

Webhook Trigger

Identifier: workflows:webhook-trigger Category: Trigger

Receives HTTP POST requests to trigger the workflow.

Configuration:

Field	Type	Description
requireSignature	boolean	Validate webhook signature
signatureHeader	string	Header containing signature
signatureSecret	string	Secret for HMAC validation

Webhook URL:

POST https://your-domain.com/api/webhooks/workflows/{workflow-token}

Output:

{
  "trigger_type": "webhook",
  "method": "POST",
  "headers": { ... },
  "query": { ... },
  "body": { ...posted_data }
}

---

Send Email

Identifier: workflows:send-email Category: Action

Sends an email using the configured mail provider.

Configuration:

Field	Type	Required	Description
to	string	Yes	Recipient email (supports expressions)
subject	string	Yes	Email subject
body	string	Yes	Email body content
bodyType	enum	No	text or html (default: text)

Expression Example:

to: "{{customer.email}}"
subject: "Order {{order.id}} Confirmation"
body: |
  Hi {{customer.name}},

  Your order #{{order.id}} has been confirmed.
  Total: ${{order.total}}

  Thank you!

Output:

{
  ...input,
  "_email_sent": true,
  "_email_to": "john@example.com",
  "_email_subject": "Order 123 Confirmation",
  "_sent_at": "2025-01-16T10:30:00Z"
}

---

HTTP Request

Identifier: workflows:http-request Category: Action

Makes HTTP requests to external APIs.

Configuration:

Field	Type	Required	Description
method	enum	Yes	GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE
url	string	Yes	Request URL (supports expressions)
headers	object	No	Request headers
body	string	No	Request body (for POST/PUT/PATCH)
bodyType	enum	No	json, form, raw
timeout	number	No	Timeout in seconds (default: 30)
retryOnError	boolean	No	Retry on HTTP errors

Output:

{
  ...input,
  "_http_status": 200,
  "_http_response": { ...response_body },
  "_http_headers": { ...response_headers },
  "_http_duration_ms": 234
}

---

Delay

Identifier: workflows:delay Category: Action

Pauses workflow execution for a specified duration.

Configuration:

Field	Type	Required	Description
duration	number	Yes	Delay amount
unit	enum	Yes	seconds, minutes, hours, days

Example:

duration: 5
unit: minutes

Output:

{
  ...input,
  "_delayed": true,
  "_delay_duration": 300,
  "_delay_started_at": "2025-01-16T10:00:00Z",
  "_delay_ended_at": "2025-01-16T10:05:00Z"
}

---

Set Variable

Identifier: workflows:set-variable Category: Action

Stores a value in the workflow execution context.

Configuration:

Field	Type	Required	Description
name	string	Yes	Variable name
value	any	Yes	Value to store (supports expressions)

Example:

name: "discount_percentage"
value: "{{order.total > 100 ? 10 : 0}}"

Output:

{
  ...input,
  "_variable_set": "discount_percentage",
  "_variable_value": 10
}

Variables are accessible in subsequent nodes via {{variables.discount_percentage}}.

---

If/Else

Identifier: workflows:if-else Category: Condition

Binary branching based on a condition.

Configuration:

Field	Type	Required	Description
condition	string	Yes	Expression that evaluates to boolean
operator	enum	No	Comparison operator
value	any	No	Value to compare against

Output Handles:

• true - When condition is true
• false - When condition is false

Example Conditions:

// Simple comparison
{{order.total}} > 100

// String matching
{{customer.type}} == "premium"

// Array check
{{items.length}} > 0

// Nested property
{{order.shipping.method}} == "express"

Output:

{
  ...input,
  "_branch": "true",  // or "false"
  "_condition_result": true
}

---

Switch

Identifier: workflows:switch Category: Condition

Multi-way branching based on value matching.

Configuration:

Field	Type	Required	Description
value	string	Yes	Expression to evaluate
cases	array	Yes	List of case values
defaultCase	string	No	Default output if no match

Example:

value: "{{order.status}}"
cases:
  - "pending"
  - "processing"
  - "shipped"
  - "delivered"
defaultCase: "other"

Output Handles: One handle per case plus optional default.

Output:

{
  ...input,
  "_branch": "processing",
  "_switch_value": "processing"
}

---

Map

Identifier: workflows:map Category: Transformer

Transforms the structure of input data.

Configuration:

Field	Type	Required	Description
mapping	object	Yes	Key-value mapping of output fields
keepOriginal	boolean	No	Keep unmapped fields

Example:

mapping:
  email: "{{customer.email}}"
  name: "{{customer.first_name}} {{customer.last_name}}"
  orderTotal: "{{order.total}}"
keepOriginal: false

Input:

{
  "customer": {
    "email": "john@example.com",
    "first_name": "John",
    "last_name": "Doe"
  },
  "order": { "total": 99.99 }
}

Output:

{
  "email": "john@example.com",
  "name": "John Doe",
  "orderTotal": 99.99
}

---

Filter

Identifier: workflows:filter Category: Transformer

Filters items in an array based on conditions.

Configuration:

Field	Type	Required	Description
arrayPath	string	Yes	Path to array in input
condition	string	Yes	Filter condition per item
outputPath	string	No	Where to put filtered array

Example:

arrayPath: "items"
condition: "{{item.price}} > 50"
outputPath: "expensive_items"

Input:

{
  "items": [
    { "name": "A", "price": 30 },
    { "name": "B", "price": 75 },
    { "name": "C", "price": 120 }
  ]
}

Output:

{
  "items": [...],
  "expensive_items": [
    { "name": "B", "price": 75 },
    { "name": "C", "price": 120 }
  ],
  "_filtered_count": 2,
  "_original_count": 3
}

---

Creating Custom Nodes

See Extending Workflows for a complete guide to creating custom nodes.

Quick Example

<?php

namespace Modules\MyModule\Nodes\Actions;

use Modules\Workflows\Nodes\BaseNode;

class MyCustomNode extends BaseNode
{
    public static function getIdentifier(): string
    {
        return 'my-module:custom-action';
    }

    public static function getName(): string
    {
        return 'My Custom Action';
    }

    public static function getCategory(): string
    {
        return 'action';
    }

    public static function getConfigSchema(): array
    {
        return [
            'type' => 'object',
            'properties' => [
                'myField' => [
                    'type' => 'string',
                    'title' => 'My Field',
                ],
            ],
            'required' => ['myField'],
        ];
    }

    public function execute(array $input, array $config, array $context): array
    {
        // Your logic here
        return array_merge($input, [
            '_custom_result' => 'done',
        ]);
    }
}

Node Connection Rules

Valid Connections

Source Category	Can Connect To
Trigger	Action, Condition, Transformer
Action	Action, Condition, Transformer
Condition	Action, Condition, Transformer
Transformer	Action, Condition, Transformer

Invalid Connections

• Triggers cannot be targets - Nothing can connect TO a trigger
• Circular connections - A node cannot eventually connect back to itself
• Type mismatches - Some nodes require specific input types

Best Practices

Node Configuration

1. Use expressions - Make configs dynamic with {{path.to.value}}
2. Validate early - Check required data at the start of workflow
3. Handle errors - Configure retry settings for unreliable operations
4. Log important data - Use Set Variable to track state

Workflow Design

1. Start with triggers - Always have a clear entry point
2. Validate data - Use conditions to handle edge cases
3. Keep it simple - Break complex workflows into smaller ones
4. Document - Use node labels to explain purpose

Next Steps

• Execution Engine - How nodes are executed
• Extending Workflows - Create custom nodes
• Examples - See nodes in action