# Concepts

The mental model behind Watchflows — how data flows, how nodes connect, and how the app is organized.

These pages explain the core ideas you'll encounter while building workflows. Start with Payloads and Port Types to understand how data moves between nodes, then explore the rest at your own pace.

## All Concepts

### Home Page

The launchpad for browsing, opening, and organizing your workflows.

### Folders & Favorites

Group flows into folders and star the ones you reach for most.

### Payloads

How data flows between nodes using structured payloads and `{{variable}}` interpolation.

### Port Types

The 7 data types, their colors, and coercion rules for connecting ports.

### Execution Model

How workflows execute: trigger activation, node chains, branching, and completion.

### Triggers Panel

Manage and inspect armed triggers running in the background.

### AI Providers

Configure Ollama, LM Studio, OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, or any OpenAI-compatible endpoint.

### AI Flow Builder

Chat with the canvas — describe a workflow in plain English and watch it build itself.

### Importing & Exporting

Share workflows by exporting to JSON and importing them on another Mac.