# Run Data Flow

### Overview

The **Run Data Flow** Action is one of the most important actions. It can be used to trigger any [Data Flow](../studio/data-flows) on an event like a button press or timer. Data Flows can perform many operations, including making an HTTP request to an external API. To create a Run Data Flow Action, specify a Data Flow, input parameters, and optionally a destination for the result of the Data Flow.

![organizing info](https://1191388742-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FhOn9CLWoV9VfJeM5EDAa%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-5978835071115083e8493f682f4050227dc83030%2Fthe-run-data-flow-action-v1715-0.gif?alt=media) &#x20;

### Use Cases

* Take data that has been entered into a form and run a Data Flow to save it to [AirData](../working-with-data/airdata/airdata-app-objects)
* Run a command against an external API such as [Salesforce](../building-apps/integration-guides/create-a-salesforce-lead)
* Send an email to a customer at a specified time using a [Timer](the-create-timer-action)
* [Validate](../building-apps/working-with-forms-agreements/validation-of-user-data) the content of a user input form

### Action Properties

#### Data Flow

The selected Data Flow will be executed when this Action runs. Data Flows can be created and managed in the [Connection Builder](../studio/builder-bar/connection-builder).

#### Inputs

If the specified Data Flow has Inputs, they will be listed under Inputs. For each Input to the Data Flow, an Airscript Expression may be provided. The Airscript Expression can be a function whose return type matches the Input's type.

#### Output Binding

When the selected Data Flow completes, the end result will be stored in the Airscript variable in Output Binding.

For instance, after the Data Flow action pictured below completes, if the **Create Zendesk Ticket** Data Flow returns the string "Success!", the variable `ticket_creation_result` will now contain "Success!".

![organizing info](https://1191388742-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FhOn9CLWoV9VfJeM5EDAa%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-64cda76b758f218039994c7ab6dc69200a385aa2%2Fthe-run-data-flow-action-v1715-1.png?alt=media)
