# What is a service?

## Overview

In Patchworks, a **service** is a mechanism for configuring and then managing the flow of data between two systems. These two systems are accessed via [connectors](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/patchworks-services/service-connectors/what-is-a-service-connector).   

Each service includes a **source** **connector** (from which data is **pulled**) and a **destination connector** (to which data is **pushed**). It also includes settings for:

* [Trigger](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/patchworks-services/working-with-services/adding-a-patchworks-service/set-the-service-trigger-schedule). Control how often the service should run - i.e. the frequency of data syncs
* [Filters](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/patchworks-services/working-with-services/adding-a-patchworks-service/define-service-filters). Determine what data is pulled from the source - for example, if you schedule a service to run every 10 minutes, it would be sensible to only pull data that's been added or updated in the last 10 minutes.
* [Mappings](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/patchworks-services/working-with-services/adding-a-patchworks-service/define-field-mappings). When data is pulled from a source system, Patchworks needs to know where it needs to go in the destination system and what (if any) [transformations](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/patchworks-services/working-with-services/field-mappings-and-transformations-services/field-transformations-services) are required to make that happen.

The illustration below helps to visualise this:

![](https://content.gitbook.com/content/5mpqoXPMbUuPa8JpCLWe/blobs/kf6xnsdBtvX2oCTRNQ7c/image.png)

When you [add a new service](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/patchworks-services/working-with-services/adding-a-patchworks-service), Patchworks guides you through the setup of all these details in a 'wizard' style. Once services are configured, you can [update](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/patchworks-services/working-with-services/updating-a-service) them at any time.