---
schema_version: "1"
id: d32e6b3b065a26af9dec856f829b4e4bc52f5ae44c46f4e61cdcfd31abce1985
title: Action Element
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/platform/264-0-0/flow_ref_elements_action.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_ref_elements_action.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: e10b6bf2c545a74cdf2e746fa7945d75188b9256bf5f8de376563ab5e71c873b
description: Launch an action that's available in Salesforce by adding an Action element to your flow.
products:
  - Flow Builder
  - Salesforce Platform
release: "264"
---
# Action Element

Launch an action that's available in Salesforce by adding an Action element to your flow.

### Required Editions

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small edition"><colgroup><col></colgroup><tbody><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;"><a href="https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_ref_supported_editions.htm&amp;release=264.0.0&amp;type=5" title="Learn about the editions and user interfaces that support Flow Builder. Some Flow Builder features integrate with other Salesforce products that require additional licenses.">View supported editions.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

![Note](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-platform-platform_automation-264-0-0-production-enus/60568438-ec7e-4665-acd1-7c80dcbe60d5/images/icon_note.png)

Note Flow Builder remembers your expand and collapse preferences for this element on the canvas. Your view is stored locally in your browser and persists between sessions on the same browser; this setting is specific to you and does not affect the view of other users. However, if you clear your browser's cookies and other site data, or switch to a different browser, your preferences reset to the default expanded view. Clearing cached images or files doesn't affect this setting.

## Usage

[Add an Action element](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_build_elements.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Use elements to define actions that the flow can run. When they’re on the canvas, connect them to create the order in which they run.") to your flow. Then, in the Action field, search for and select the action you want to perform or filter by category or type of action. Flow Builder shows descriptions for action inputs and outputs. See [Provided Flow Core Actions](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_ref_elements_actions_list.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Perform an action outside of the flow. Choose from Salesforce-provided actions, like Submit for Approval or Send Email, or from your org’s quick actions and local actions. To add one of these actions to your flow, add an Action element. Then, in the Action field, search for the appropriate action."). If something goes wrong, go back to select a different action.

## Set Input Values for the Selected Action

To set the input values for the referenced action, use values from earlier in the flow. Depending on the action and input type, you can reference resources, enter literals, use Formula Mode, use Transform Mode, or use an input configurator. Assign values for all required inputs. To assign values to optional inputs, select **Include** or **Include with Specified Value** for the toggle associated with the input.

## Store Output Values

To use the referenced action's outputs, either use automatic output or assign manual variables. You can’t store output values using both automatic output and manually assigned variables.

To use automatic output to reference the action's outputs later in the flow, select the desired output from the resource: Outputs from ElementName.

To manually assign the referenced action's outputs to variables, expand **Advanced**, and assign variables to the needed outputs. To return the referenced action's outputs from a flow, manually assign variables defined with **Available for output** selected.

#### See Also

- [Flow Elements](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_ref_elements.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "An element represents an action that the flow can run. Examples include reading or writing Salesforce data, displaying information and collecting data from flow users, runnning business logic, or manipulating data.")
- [Add and Edit Elements](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_build_elements.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Use elements to define actions that the flow can run. When they’re on the canvas, connect them to create the order in which they run.")
- [Provided Flow Core Actions](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_ref_elements_actions_list.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Perform an action outside of the flow. Choose from Salesforce-provided actions, like Submit for Approval or Send Email, or from your org’s quick actions and local actions. To add one of these actions to your flow, add an Action element. Then, in the Action field, search for the appropriate action.")
- [_Trailhead_: Data and Actions in Flows](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/data-and-actions-in-flows)