---
schema_version: "1"
id: e317b5ba3616a3a89a95314aeaa12b98be2ee9f1c5e20b8ae679c4619e7f79af
title: Vlocity Streaming API Data Sources (Managed Package)
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/xcloud/264-0-0/os_vlocity_streaming_api_data_sources.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_vlocity_streaming_api_data_sources.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 9bab912de7ff57bcf732af5ddac3ef4191921959dec6b7ed42ff8a12d44a9db1
description: For the managed package runtime, streaming API lets you push a stream of notifications from Salesforce to client apps based on criteria that you define. It has a persistent connection that continues to deliver new data as it becomes available, rather than using client polling.
products:
  - Omnistudio
release: "264"
---
# Vlocity Streaming API Data Sources (Managed Package)

For the managed package runtime, streaming API lets you push a stream of notifications from Salesforce to client apps based on criteria that you define. It has a persistent connection that continues to deliver new data as it becomes available, rather than using client polling.

![Managed Package app icon](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-xcloud-omnistudio_for_managed_packages-264-0-0-production-enus/aa2554ec-624a-4ee6-8da4-6435670e6e62/resources-global/_corporate/images/managedpackageicon.png) This information is for Omnistudio for Managed Packages. For Omnistudio on standard runtime, see [Omnistudio Help](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_omnistudio_standard.htm&language=en_US).

Polling is the most traditional way to get data from a data source that produces the stream of events and updates. The client makes requests periodically, and the server sends data if there’s a response. In case there's no data to be sent by the server, an empty response is returned.

Streaming API uses push technology, which is a publish and subscribe model that transfers information that is initiated from a server to the client. Push technology transfers information that is initiated from a server to the client. This type of communication is the opposite of polling where a request for information is made from a client to the server. The main benefits of using the Streaming API are a reduced number of API calls and improved performance.

For details about the Streaming API, see [Use Streaming API](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/en/modules/api_basics/units/api_basics_streaming) and [Streaming API Developer Guide](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.api_streaming.meta/api_streaming/intro_stream.htm).

This illustration shows the difference between Polling and Streaming API:

![Polling vs Streaming](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-xcloud-omnistudio_for_managed_packages-264-0-0-production-enus/aa2554ec-624a-4ee6-8da4-6435670e6e62/omnistudio_for_managed_packages/images/pollingvsstreaming.png)

## Streaming API Types

The Vlocity Streaming API types include:

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small ">
        <colgroup>
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        <thead class="slds-text-title_caps ">
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            <th scope="col" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" id="d118283e99">
              <p style="margin-bottom:0;">Type</p>
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            <th scope="col" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" id="d118283e105">
              <p style="margin-bottom:0;">Description</p>
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              <p style="margin-bottom:0;">Example</p>
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        <tbody>
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            <td data-label="Type" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d118283e99 ">
              <p style="margin-bottom:0;">Streaming Channel</p>
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            <td data-label="Description" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d118283e105 ">
              <p style="margin-bottom:0;">The Streaming Channel API type uses the Streaming API to send notifications of general events that aren’t tied to Salesforce data changes.</p>
            </td>

            <td data-label="Example" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d118283e111 ">

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            <td data-label="Type" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d118283e99 ">
              <p style="margin-bottom:0;">PushTopic</p>
            </td>

            <td data-label="Description" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d118283e105 ">
              <p style="margin-bottom:0;">A PushTopic is an SOQL query that returns a result that notifies listeners of changes to records in a Salesforce organization. The PushTopic defines a Streaming API channel.</p>
            </td>

            <td data-label="Example" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d118283e111 ">

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            <td data-label="Type" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d118283e99 ">
              <p style="margin-bottom:0;">Platform Event</p>
            </td>

            <td data-label="Description" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d118283e105 ">
              <p style="margin-bottom:0;">Platform Events are part of Salesforce’s enterprise messaging platform. The platform provides an event-driven messaging architecture to enable apps to communicate inside and outside of Salesforce. A Platform Event combines PushTopic and Streaming Channel. Instead of working with an sObject, Platform Events work with custom objects.</p>
            </td>

            <td data-label="Example" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d118283e111 ">
              <p style="margin-bottom:0;"><a href="https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_configure_a_platform_event_data_source_on_a_flexcard.htm&amp;release=264.0.0&amp;type=5" title="For the managed package runtime, configure a Platform Event data source to enable apps to communicate inside and outside of Salesforce. Platform Events are part of Salesforce’s enterprise messaging platform. A Platform Event combines PushTopic and Streaming Channel. Instead of working with an sObject, Platform Events work with custom objects.">Configure a Platform Event Data Source on a Flexcard (Managed Package)</a>.</p>
            </td>

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

- **[Streaming Channel Data Source (Managed Package)](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_streaming_channel_data_source.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    For the managed package runtime, the Streaming Channel API type uses the Streaming API to send notifications of general events that aren’t tied to Salesforce data changes. Use the Streaming Channel API when you want to send and receive notifications based on custom events that you specify. You can use Streaming Channel API for any application that sends custom notifications, such as a Chat application.
- **[PushTopic Data Source (Managed Package)](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_pushtopic_data_source.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    For the managed package runtime, the Streaming Channel API type uses the Streaming API to send notifications of general events that are not tied to Salesforce data changes. Use the Streaming Channel API when you want to send and receive notifications based on custom events that you specify. You can use Streaming Channel API for any application that sends custom notifications, such as a Chat application.
- **[Platform Event Data Source (Managed Package)](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_platform_event_data_source.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    For the managed package runtime, platform Events are part of Salesforce’s enterprise messaging platform. A Platform Event combines PushTopic and Streaming Channel to enable apps to communicate inside and outside of Salesforce. Instead of working with an sObject, Platform Events work with custom objects.