# Building process flows

## Introduction

**Process flows** are built by dragging and dropping [shapes](/product-documentation/process-flows/building-process-flows/process-flow-shapes.md) onto a [canvas](/product-documentation/process-flows/building-process-flows/the-process-flow-canvas.md), and then configuring those shapes to work in the way you need to exchange data between connector [instances](/product-documentation/connectors-and-instances/working-with-instances.md). 

Process flows are extremely flexible. You can build something very simple to sync data between two instances with standard field mappings - or build more complex flows, perhaps using custom scripts and/or routing data to different paths based on given conditions. 

## Prerequisites for building a process flow

Before you start building a process flow, make sure that you've [installed a connector](/product-documentation/connectors-and-instances/working-with-connectors/installing-a-connector.md) and [added your required instances](/product-documentation/connectors-and-instances/working-with-instances/adding-an-instance.md) for any third-party applications that you want to use.

## In this section

* [Approaching your first process flow](/product-documentation/process-flows/building-process-flows/approaching-your-first-process-flow.md)
* [Techniques for building process flows](/product-documentation/process-flows/building-process-flows/the-process-flow-canvas/techniques-for-building-process-flows-classic-canvas.md)
* [Best practice for building process flows](/product-documentation/process-flows/building-process-flows/best-practice-for-building-process-flows.md)
* [Process flow versioning](/product-documentation/process-flows/building-process-flows/process-flow-versioning.md)
* [Adding a new process flow](/product-documentation/process-flows/building-process-flows/adding-a-new-process-flow.md)
* [The process flow canvas](/product-documentation/process-flows/building-process-flows/the-process-flow-canvas.md)
* [Process flow shapes](/product-documentation/process-flows/building-process-flows/process-flow-shapes.md)
* [Shape notes](/product-documentation/process-flows/building-process-flows/shape-notes.md)
* [Dynamic variables](/product-documentation/process-flows/building-process-flows/dynamic-variables.md)


---

# 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/process-flows/building-process-flows.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.