---
schema_version: "1"
id: 31676d09b952b2a77f7bb870623529455bcaa4e5b5d2a774e1cbc7bab727206d
title: Workflow Terminology
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/platform/264-0-0/workflow_terminology.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.workflow_terminology.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: af8daa93184d276994c6d0b54d8e84ece5ec01a141481d2462c54ab186bfd1dd
description: These terms are used when describing workflow features and functionality.
products:
  - Flow Builder
  - Salesforce Platform
release: "264"
---
# Workflow Terminology

These terms are used when describing workflow features and functionality.

### Required Editions

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small edition">
      <colgroup>
        <col>
      </colgroup>
      <tbody>
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          <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">
            <p>Available in: both Lightning Experience and Salesforce Classic</p>
            <p style="margin-bottom:0;">Flow triggers
              are available in: Salesforce Classic</p>
          </td>

        </tr>
        <tr class="">
          <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">
            <p>Available in: <span><strong>Enterprise</strong>,
                <strong>Performance</strong>, <strong>Unlimited</strong>, and <strong>Developer</strong>
                Editions</span></p>
            <p>Outbound messages available in: <span><strong>Enterprise</strong>,
                <strong>Performance</strong>, <strong>Unlimited</strong>, and <strong>Developer</strong> Editions</span></p>
            <p style="margin-bottom:0;">Email alerts are available in: <span><strong>Essentials</strong>,
                <strong>Professional</strong>, <strong>Enterprise</strong>, <strong>Performance</strong>, <strong>Unlimited</strong>,
                and <strong>Developer</strong> Editions</span></p>
          </td>

        </tr>
      </tbody>
    </table>

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

Important Support and updates for Workflow Rules have ended as of December 31, 2025. This means that support won't be provided for any workflow rules and bugs in the Workflow Rules product won't be fixed. See [Workflow Rules & Process Builder End of Support](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=001096524&type=1&language=en_US).

After December 31, 2025, existing workflow rules continue to run, and you can activate, deactivate, and edit them; however we recommend using Flow Builder. To migrate existing workflow rules, plan your [switch to Flow Builder](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_migrate_to_flow_learning_map.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Flow Builder combines the capabilities of workflow rules and Process Builder in a single point-and-click tool, making it easier to create a triggered process. If you created triggered processes with workflow rules or Process Builder, use the Migrate to Flow tool to move them to Flow Builder. Start by migrating and testing in a sandbox environment before moving your new flows to production.") and use the [Migrate to Flow](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_migrate_to_flow.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Use the Migrate to Flow tool to convert your Process Builder processes and workflow rules into Flow Builder, including scheduled actions. The tool also supports partial migration of processes for most actions.") tool. For new automations, create flows in [Flow Builder](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Automation reduces repetitive work and helps your team complete tasks faster and more accurately. With Flow Builder, you can build simple or complex automations, forms, and guided experiences with no code. You can add forms to Salesforce pages and Experience sites, and launch flows using buttons, record triggers, or schedules.").

## Workflow Rule

A workflow rule sets workflow actions into motion when its designated conditions are met. You can configure workflow actions to execute immediately when a record meets the conditions in your workflow rule, or set time triggers that execute the workflow actions on a specific day. If a workflow action hasn’t executed yet, you can view and modify it in the workflow queue.

## Workflow Action

A workflow action, such as an email alert, field update, outbound message, or task, fires when the conditions of a workflow rule are met.

## Email Alert

Email alerts are actions that send emails, using a specified email template, to specified recipients. Workflow alerts can be sent to any user or contact, as long as they have a valid email address.

## Field Update

A field update is an action that automatically updates a field with a new value.

## Flow

A flow is an application that can execute logic, interact with the Salesforce database, call Apex classes, and collect data from users. You can build flows by using Flow Builder.

## Flow Trigger

A flow trigger is a workflow action that launches a flow. With flow triggers, you can automate complex business processes—create flows to perform logic, and have events trigger the flows via workflow rules—without writing code.

The pilot program for flow trigger workflow actions is closed. If you've already enabled the pilot in your org, you can continue to create and edit flow trigger workflow actions. If you didn't enable the pilot in your org, use Flow Builder to create a record-triggered flow, or use Process Builder to launch a flow from a process.

## Outbound Message

An outbound message sends information to a designated endpoint, like an external service. Outbound messages are configured from Setup. You must configure the external endpoint and create a listener for the messages using SOAP API.