# Building Flows

Flows are directed graphs of components. Each component performs a unit of work — loading data, calling an LLM, parsing output, etc. — and passes its result to the next component via typed connections.

## The Canvas


![Canvas overview](./media/Langflow-canvas.png)

- **Drag-and-drop** — Drop components from the sidebar onto the canvas.
- **Ports** — Each component exposes typed input and output ports. Compatible ports share a colour. Hover over a port to see its type.
- **Edges** — Drag from an output port to a compatible input port to connect components. Incompatible types will not connect.
- **Multi-select** — Hold `Shift` and drag to select multiple components at once. Use `Ctrl/Cmd+C` and `Ctrl/Cmd+V` to duplicate a selection.
- **Pan and zoom** — Scroll to zoom; click and drag the canvas background to pan. Use the minimap in the bottom corner for large flows.

## Running a Flow


![Run component button](./media/Langflow-run-component.png) 

- Click the **Run Component** icon on any individual component to execute the flow up to that point. The output appears inline on the component.
- For chat flows, the **Playground** panel (chat interface) shows inputs and outputs in a conversational view.
- Flows can also be run using an **API call**. Once a flow is ready, execute it as an HTTP endpoint. For getting the API endpoint and schema, click **Share** -> **API Access** to find automatically generated **Python**, **JavaScript** or **cURL** snippets. The payload in the API request can be changed by altering the inputs from the **Input Schema**.

![API Access modal](./media/Langflow-api-access.png)


## Configuring Components


![Component side panel](./media/Langflow-side_panel-global_variables.png)

1. Click any component on the canvas to open its **side panel** on the right. The side panel contains the advanced fields.
2. Fill in required fields (marked with `*`).
3. Use the **Code** tab to view the underlying Python class. This Python code can be altered to create a custom implementation.
4. Alter the code of an already existing component, or click on **New Custom Component** in the bottom left of the canvas to create your own custom component from scratch.

Some fields support **Global Variable** references — click the globe icon in a relevant field to select a stored global variable, instead of typing a value directly.

![Component code](./media/Langflow-component-code.png)

## Variables and Secrets

![Global variables](./media/Langflow-global-variables.png) 

Use **Settings → Global Variables** (gear icon in the clickable button on the top right) to store reusable values and secrets such as API keys. Global variables are:

- Encrypted at rest in the Langflow database.
- Referenced from any component field via the variable picker.
- Resolved and injected as environment variables when a flow is [deployed](./deploying-flows.md).

> **Important:** When deploying a flow that uses global variables, those variables must be defined in your settings before deployment. Missing variables will cause the deployment to fail with an error listing the undefined names.


## Flow Properties

![Flow menu](./media/Langflow-flow-menu.png) 

- Every save creates a new revision automatically.
- Open the flow menu (pencil icon in the header, next to the flow name) and set the Name and Description of the flow. The flow can also be locked to prevent further changes.
- A flow can also be exported as JSON via the export menu. Click on **Share** → **Export** to export the flow, share it with others and import it into an instance of Langflow.
- Import a JSON flow via **New Flow → Import**.

![Export flow](./media/Langflow-export-flow.png)

## Organizing Flows into Projects

Flows live inside **projects** (folders). Create a project from the main flows page. 

## See also

- [Components](./components.md) — full component catalog and DKubeX Providers.
- [Deploying Flows](./deploying-flows.md) — promote a flow to a production endpoint.