Learn how to get started with Step Functions

To get started building workflows with AWS Step Functions, you can work through the following tutorials or follow the interactive modules in the AWS Step Functions Workshop.

Each step in the workflow is called a state. You most commonly use states, such as Task workflow state, Choice workflow state, Parallel workflow state, and Map workflow state, to define your workflows. Within Task states, you can use the AWS SDK integrations that Step Functions supports and orchestrate multiple AWS services in your workflows.

Building a credit card application workflow

After completing the steps in this getting started tutorial, you'll have a workflow that simulates processing a credit card application. You'll learn how to use common states and integrate your workflow with other AWS services

Step Functions can be used to create many types of workflows, such as data processing, IT automation, machine learning, and media encoding.

The following diagram shows an example credit limit approval process, with each step represented by states in a Step Functions workflow. If the requested credit limit is greater than or equal to $5000, the workflow will add a human in the loop for an approval before proceeding. For requests less than $5000, the limit will be automatically approved for further processing. In parallel, functions will be called to verify the requesters identity and verify their address. If those processes both succeed, credit scores will be retrieved from with a dynamic map for all listed credit bureaus.

In the following pages, you will build this credit card processing workflow. We recommend completing the steps in order, starting with: Create a state machine