How do I choose between polling and event triggers?

Event triggers (webhooks) are better - immediate response, less load. Polling is necessary when systems don't support webhooks or you need to check external systems periodically.

What happens if a trigger fires but the action fails?

Depends on your platform. Good systems offer: retry logic, dead letter queues, error notifications, and manual reprocessing. Always design for failure scenarios.

Can I have multiple triggers for one workflow?

Yes, most platforms support multiple triggers starting the same workflow. This is useful when the same process should run for different events (new customer OR customer update).

How do I test triggers?

Use test events, staging environments, or trigger simulation. Verify: trigger fires correctly, filters work, errors are handled, and actions complete. Test edge cases like rapid sequential triggers.

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Trigger

An event that initiates an automated workflow or action. Common triggers include form submissions, schedule times, data changes, emails, and webhooks.

In-Depth Explanation

A trigger is the event that starts an automated workflow or action. Triggers define "when" automation runs, responding to events in real-time or on schedules.

Trigger types:

Event-based: Something happens (form submit, record update)
Scheduled: Time-based (daily, weekly, hourly)
Webhook: External system calls your automation
Manual: User-initiated but then runs automatically
Conditional: Event + conditions must be met

Common trigger events:

New email received
Form submitted
Database record created/updated
File uploaded
API call received
Scheduled time reached
Approval submitted
Payment received

Trigger considerations:

Deduplication: Don't run twice for same event
Filtering: Only trigger on relevant events
Error handling: What if the trigger fires but action fails?
Volume: Can your system handle trigger frequency?

Business Context

Well-designed triggers ensure automation runs at the right time. Poor trigger design leads to missed events, duplicates, or overwhelming system capacity.