What is a trigger?
A trigger is the event that starts an automated workflow, such as a new email arriving, a form being submitted, or a set time of day being reached.
Every automation needs a starting point, and that starting point is the trigger. It settles the question of when the automation should run. A trigger watches for something specific to happen in an app or on a schedule, and when it does, the automation begins and passes the details of that event along to the steps that follow.
Common triggers include a new row added to a spreadsheet, a new file uploaded to a shared folder, a deal moved to a new stage in a CRM, a new message in a particular chat channel, or a set time, such as every Monday at nine. For instance, a trigger for new form submissions could start an automation that files each response and alerts the person responsible for handling it.
Triggers work in two main ways. Some are instant: the app sends a notification the moment the event happens, often using a webhook. Others check for new data at regular intervals, which is called polling, so there can be a short delay between the event and the automation starting. How often a tool checks depends on the tool and its settings.
Choosing the right trigger matters. A trigger that is too broad, such as any new email, can start the automation far more often than intended, while one that is too narrow can miss events. Filters placed right after the trigger help limit runs to the cases that actually need handling.
An example
Saving a signed contract to a shared folder triggers a workflow that notifies the finance team and creates a draft invoice.