Key Concepts
Core concepts and terminology in Helios workflows, nodes, and integrations
Key Concepts
Essential concepts and terminology for understanding Helios.
Core Concepts
Integration
Configured connection to external services with secure credential storage and reusable access across workflows. This is sometimes called a "service".
Node
Individual processing unit in workflows that executes tasks, processes data, and connects to external services.
Example Node Types:
- Script: Execute custom JavaScript code
- Integration: Connect to external services
- AI: Process data using AI models
- Control: Handle workflow logic (conditions, loops)
- Trigger: Start workflow execution
Node States:
- Pending: Waiting to execute
- Running: Currently executing
- Succeeded: Completed successfully
- Failed: Execution failed
- Suspended: Paused for external input
Project
Organizational unit grouping related workflows, variables, and integrations with team access control.
Resource
Manageable entities in Helios including organizations, projects, workflows, integrations, variables, and secrets.
Role
Permission level determining user actions. Three main types: User (view/use), Editor (create/modify), Admin (full control).
Secret
Encrypted sensitive data (API keys, passwords, tokens) with scoped access and audit trails.
Secret Scopes:
- Organization: Available to all projects
- Project: Available to project workflows
- Workflow: Specific to individual workflows
- User: Personal secrets
Service
External system that Helios integrates with (GitHub, Slack, APIs, databases, AI services).
Trigger
Event that initiates workflow execution. Types include manual, webhook, cron, and subworkflow.
Variable
Non-sensitive configuration values reusable across workflows with hierarchical scoping.
Variable Precedence:
- Workflow-level (highest)
- User-level
- Project-level
- Organization-level (lowest)
Visibility
Access control setting determining resource discoverability. "Organization" (all members) or "Restricted" (explicit access only).
Webhook
HTTP endpoints receiving external events to trigger workflows with authentication and filtering support.
Workflow
Automated process defined as directed acyclic graph (DAG) of connected nodes.
Workflow States:
- Draft: Being designed
- Published: Ready for execution
- Running: Currently executing
- Completed: Finished successfully
- Failed: Execution failed
- Cancelled: Manually stopped
Workflow Run
Specific execution instance with status, duration, trigger data, node results, and logs.
Security Terms
Encryption
Data protection through cryptographic methods for data at rest, in transit, and envelope encryption.
OAuth
Industry-standard authorization protocol enabling secure authorization without password sharing.
RBAC (Role-Based Access Control)
Permission system assigning roles to users with hierarchical permissions and fine-grained access control.
SOC2 Type 2
Security certification validating comprehensive security controls and operational effectiveness.
Integration Terms
API Version
Specific version of external service API with backward compatibility and feature support considerations.
Authentication Method
Different ways to authenticate with services (OAuth 2.0, API key, basic auth, bearer token, custom).
Rate Limiting
Restrictions on API call frequency with request limits, throttling, queuing, and backoff strategies.
Related Documentation
- Quickstart Guide - Learn to use these concepts
- User Roles and Permissions - Detailed role information
- Sharing Guide - Project and integration sharing
- Integrations - Integration setup guides
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