processnode

Processnode is a term used in workflow and process orchestration to denote a node in a process graph that encapsulates a unit of work. In this context, a processnode can represent a task, an event, a decision point, or a sub-process. It is connected to other processnodes by edges that express control flow or data dependencies.

A processnode typically carries attributes such as an identifier, a type, input and output definitions, estimated duration, state, and metadata. The edges define sequencing and can encode parallelism, synchronization points, or conditional routing.

Common categories include start node, end node, task node, decision node, fork/join nodes for parallel branches, and sub-process nodes that encapsulate nested workflows. Execution proceeds by triggering ready nodes, executing, and transitioning to subsequent nodes, with fallbacks for errors or timeouts. Process mining and tracing often rely on the history of processnodes to reconstruct process execution.

Implementation approaches vary, but typical designs use state machines, event-driven architectures, or dataflow graphs. Persistence, idempotence, and unique identifiers help maintain correctness in distributed environments. Visualization and tooling often render processnodes as circles or boxes and connect them with arrows.

Processnodes are used in business process management systems, robotic process automation, data pipelines, and distributed workflow engines. They support modeling, execution, monitoring, and optimization of processes by providing a granular representation of each step in a workflow.