Platform Event-triggered Flow
Key Takeaway
Choose a platform event-triggered flow when automation must start automatically, with no user interaction, each time Salesforce receives a particular event message.
Platform events carry real-time event data between Salesforce and external systems in messages called event messages. A platform event-triggered flow is a flow that starts automatically when Salesforce receives an event message. An app builder can use this flow type to react to those event messages with clicks instead of code. The flow runs in the background with no user interaction.
When to choose a platform event-triggered flow
Triggered flows have three trigger types:
| Trigger type | When it runs |
|---|---|
| Record | When a record is created, updated, or deleted |
| Schedule | At a time and frequency you specify |
| Platform Event | When Salesforce receives a particular event message |
Choose a platform event-triggered flow if the requirement is to act when Salesforce receives an event message. A scenario about an event from an external system points to this flow type, not to a record-triggered or schedule-triggered flow.
For example, an integrated printer that is out of ink publishes an event message, and the flow responds in Salesforce.
Platform event-triggered flows are behind-the-scenes automation, like record-triggered and schedule-triggered flows. If the business process needs input from a user, use a screen flow instead.