# Working with data

Understanding how data flows through your flow with types, inputs, outputs, and transformations.

## Typed Data and Visual Indicators  
Most data in flows is **typed and color coded** to help you understand what kind of data you’re working with at a glance. This visual system makes it easier to build flows correctly:

- **Circular handles**: Represent standard data types (strings, numbers, booleans, objects)  
- **Square handles**: Represent arrays

The shape difference helps you quickly identify array data versus other types when connecting nodes.

**The same type can only be connected together.** This type safety ensures that your flow logic is correct—you can’t accidentally connect a string output to a number input, for example.

## Type Conversion  
Most types can be converted to another type. For example you can convert a number like `4` to a string like `"4"`. You can simply connect two types and a **conversion node** will be added for you.

## Data Manipulation Methods  
Data can be manipulated with a wide variety of methods throughout your flow. These include:

- **Mathematical operations**: `sum`, `subtract`, `multiply`, `divide`  
- **String operations**: `substring`, `toUpperCase`, `toLowerCase`, `trim`, `split`, `join`, `replace`  
- **Array operations**: `map`, `filter`, `reduce`, `length`  
- **Other utilities**: `UUID`, `HMAC`, `regex-test`, and more

These methods are available through various transformation nodes, allowing you to process and transform data as it flows through your automation.

Last updated on January 18, 2026