Zaps

Zaps is a term with multiple meanings, depending on context. In everyday language, a zap denotes a brief electrical discharge, often accompanied by a sharp sound or flash. In technology and online services, the term has a more specific use as the name of automated workflows in certain software ecosystems. The plural form zaps can refer to multiple instances of either sense.

Electrical sense: A zap is a sudden transfer of electrical energy through air or an insulator, typically occurring as a spark or arc. Zaps can arise from static electricity, capacitor discharge, or fault currents in electrical circuits. They are usually short in duration and can vary in peak current from tiny static discharges to potentially dangerous arcs. Handling equipment with proper insulation, grounding, and safety measures helps mitigate risks associated with zaps.

Software sense: In automation platforms such as Zapier, a Zap is an automated workflow that connects two or more applications to perform a task without manual intervention. A Zap usually consists of a trigger, which is an event in one app, and one or more actions in other apps. Users can create, modify, or disable zaps to automate tasks such as syncing data, sending notifications, or moving information between services. Zaps are designed to be created with little or no coding, enabling non-developers to implement workflow automations.

Etymology and usage: The term zap derives from an onomatopoeic representation of an electrical discharge. In modern contexts, it is used both descriptively for electrical events and commercially as branding for automated workflows.