# What Is a Workflow?

> A workflow in Glow is a series of automated steps that move and transform data between apps, services, and systems.

A workflow in Glow is a series of automated steps that move and transform data between apps, services, and systems. You build it visually on a canvas, connecting triggers (events that start the workflow) to actions (tasks the workflow performs).

The result is a repeatable, automated process that runs whenever its trigger fires.

## The trigger-action pattern

Every workflow follows the same pattern:

### A trigger fires
Something happens: an HTTP request arrives, a schedule fires, or a person presses **Click to start**.

### Actions execute in sequence

Each subsequent step receives data from earlier steps, does its work, and passes its output forward.

### The workflow completes

The final step finishes, and the run is recorded for review.

This pattern scales from a two-step automation to a complex, branching process with dozens of steps.

## A Real-World Analogy

Think of a workflow like an assembly line. Raw materials arrive at one end (the trigger). Each station along the line adds or transforms something (the actions), and a finished product rolls off the other end.

If one station needs a part from an earlier station, it can reach back and grab it. Any step in Glow can reference the output of any previous step the same way.

```mermaid
flowchart LR
    A[Raw Materials<br/>Trigger] --> B[Station 1<br/>Action] --> C[Station 2<br/>Action] --> D[Finished Product<br/>End]
    A -.->|Reference Data| C
```

## Example: Lead Enrichment

Take a request like: "When a contact form is submitted, enrich the lead with AI, then add it to our CRM."

In Glow, that becomes three steps:

  - [1. Webhook Trigger](/build/triggers/webhook): Listens for form submissions and captures the submitted data.
  - [2. AI Step](/build/ai-features/ai-prompt): Takes the raw form data, enriches it (classifying intent or extracting key details), and outputs structured results.
  - [3. CRM App Action](/manage/apps-and-integrations/overview): Receives the enriched data and creates a new contact record in your CRM.

You arrange these steps visually on the canvas, drawing connections to set execution order and data flow.

Glow connects to thousands of third-party apps, and [HTTP Request](/build/action-steps/http-request) and [Code editor](/build/action-steps/code-execution) steps cover services that have no dedicated integration.

> You do not need to plan the entire workflow up front. Start with a trigger and
> one action, test it, then extend the chain step by step.

## What's Next?

- 👉 **[Steps and Connections →](/build/core-concepts/steps-and-the-canvas)**: learn how steps, links and branches form the canvas.
- Build a working workflow end to end in [Quickstart: Your First Workflow](/getting-started/tutorials/your-first-workflow).