What is low-code?

Low-code sits between no-code and traditional programming. Most of the work happens in a visual editor, with drag-and-drop steps and forms, but the builder can add short pieces of code where needed, such as a custom calculation or a step that reformats data in an unusual way. It speeds up building without closing off options that need a little programming.

For example, a finance team might build an expense approval process in a low-code automation tool. The trigger, approval steps, and notifications are set up visually, but one step uses a few lines of code to apply the company's own rounding and currency rules before the totals are written to the accounting system.

Low-code tools are often used by developers who want to build faster and by technically minded business staff, and they suit teams where one person can write a little code to extend what others build visually. The line between no-code and low-code is blurry, and many tools support both, offering a visual editor with an optional code step.

The trade-off is that any custom code has to be understood and maintained. If the person who wrote it leaves, a small script can become a hidden point of failure. Keeping code steps short, commented, and documented alongside the workflow makes them easier for someone else to fix.

An example

An automation built visually includes one short code step that cleans up phone numbers before they are added to the CRM.