Mulesoft Flow Types – Flows – Subflows – Private

In MuleSoft, there are three main types of flows: regular flows, subflows, and private flows. Each flow type serves a specific purpose and has its own characteristics. Let’s explore each of these flow types:

1. Regular Flow:

   • A regular flow is the most common type of flow in MuleSoft.
   • It represents the primary path of execution within a Mule application.
   • Regular flows are used to process incoming messages, perform transformations, invoke connectors, and handle routing and error handling.
   • They are typically triggered by inbound endpoints (e.g., HTTP listener, JMS listener) and serve as the entry points for messages into your application.
   • Regular flows are visible and can be accessed and reused within the same application.

2. Subflow:

   • A subflow is a reusable unit of logic that can be invoked by multiple regular flows within the same Mule application.
   • Subflows are created to encapsulate a specific sequence of message processing steps that are used in multiple places.
   • They promote code reusability and maintainability by allowing you to define common logic in one place and reuse it throughout your application.
   • Subflows are scoped to the Mule application in which they are defined and cannot be reused across different projects.

3. Private Flow:

   • A private flow is a special type of flow designed to encapsulate reusable logic that can be exposed as a private service or API.
   • Private flows are typically used for creating reusable integration services that can be shared and invoked across different parts of the application or even by external systems.
   • Unlike regular flows, private flows are not directly visible within the same application. They are accessed via HTTP requests or other connectors, making them suitable for exposing as reusable services.
   • Private flows can be reused across different Mule projects or applications, promoting modularity and service-oriented architecture.