> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.triform.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Flows

> Connect nodes into executable graphs; patterns and practices

## Building blocks

* Input Node — Named entry ports.
* Processing Nodes — Actions/Agents/Flows.
* Output Node — Named exit ports.
* Edges — Data/control movement between Nodes.

## Patterns

* Linear — Input → Action → Output.
* Branching — Route by condition into multiple paths.
* Parallel — Fan‑out work; aggregate results downstream.
* Iterative — Loop over collections or conditional repetition using nested loop structures.

## Enhanced Flow System

Recent improvements to the Flow system include:

* **Better validation** — Enhanced graph validation catches structural errors early
* **Loop support** — Native support for nested flow structures with iteration
* **Improved schema handling** — Better validation logic for complex data flows
* **Build/edit operations** — Expanded flow interface allows iterative development

## Practices

* Keep Flows legible top down.
* Favor shallow graphs; compose via sub‑Flows for depth.
* Remove unused ports and edges to reduce confusion.
* Use loops for batch processing and iterative operations.
* Validate flow structure early to catch connection issues.

> tip: Design for testing — Save example Payloads at the Flow level to lock in expected shapes and make regression checks easy.