Learn how Power Automate uses connectors

We may define connectors as a proxy or a wrapper around an API that permits the underlying service to connect to Microsoft Power Automate, Microsoft Power Apps, and Azure Logic Apps. Moreover, it gives a way for users to connect their accounts and leverage a set of prebuilt actions and triggers to build their apps and workflows.

Components of a Connector

Every connector gives a set of operations referred to as ‘Actions’ and ‘Triggers’. Therefore after connecting to the underlying service, these operations can be easily leveraged within your apps and workflows.

1. Actions

Actions can be described as changes directed by a user. For instance, when we use an action to look up, write, update, or delete data in a SQL database. Such that all actions directly map to operations that aredefined in the Swagger.

2. Triggers

There are many connectors offer triggers that can notify your app when specific events occur. For instance, the FTP connector has the OnUpdatedFile trigger. Therefore, we can build either a Logic App or a flow that listens to this trigger and thereby performs action whenever the trigger fires. There are primarily two types of triggers –

• Polling Triggers: The polling triggers call for service at a specified frequency to check for new data. So, when new data is available, it causes a new run of your workflow instance with the data as input.
• Push Triggers: The push triggers listen for data on an endpoint, that is, they wait for an event to occur. Such that, the occurrence of this event leads to a new run of workflow instance.

How to use Connectors?

Connectors are available for use in multiple products.

1. Power Automate

• Power Automate allows working smarter by building workflows and automating processes across your apps and services. Moreover, it streamline notifications, sync data between systems, automate approval, and much more.

2. Power Apps

• The Power Apps allows users to build cloud-connected and cross-platform business apps using clicks and minimal code.
• Further, it helps to Ccreate rich user experiences across the web, phones, and tablets. Assemble forms, add business logic, and thereby take advantage of device capabilities with full creative freedom.

3. Logic Apps

• The Logic Apps is the workflow engine for Power Automate thereby enabling pro-developers to visually create or programmatically configure workflows in Azure.
• Also, a connector in Logic Apps allows users to automate EAI, Business to business (B2B), and Business to consumer (B2C) scenarios while reaping the benefits of source control, testing, support, and operations.
• In Logic Apps, we can use enterprise connectors for creating logic app workflows and automate processes between cloud apps and cloud services.

4. Custom connectors

• Irrespective of a wide variety of connectors, there are times when we might want to call APIs, services, and systems that are not available as prebuilt connectors.
• Therefore, to support more tailored scenarios, we can build custom connectors with their own triggers and actions. Such that, these connectors are function-based that is data is returned based on calling specific functions in the underlying service.

Reference: Connectors