# 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](/product-documentation/patchworks-services/service-connectors/what-is-a-service-connector.md).   

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](/product-documentation/patchworks-services/working-with-services/adding-a-patchworks-service/set-the-service-trigger-schedule.md). Control how often the service should run - i.e. the frequency of data syncs
* [Filters](/product-documentation/patchworks-services/working-with-services/adding-a-patchworks-service/define-service-filters.md). 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](/product-documentation/patchworks-services/working-with-services/adding-a-patchworks-service/define-field-mappings.md). 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](/product-documentation/patchworks-services/working-with-services/field-mappings-and-transformations-services/field-transformations-services.md) are required to make that happen.

The illustration below helps to visualise this:

![](/files/F8dPgRwxmboGoAKDzqoM)

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


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/patchworks-services/getting-started/what-is-a-service.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.