> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.getkadabra.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Understand Data Flow

> See how data moves through a flow so you can build and debug with confidence

# Data Flow

In Kadabra, data flows **left to right** across your Canvas. Each **node** receives data on its **left edge** and emits data from its **right edge**.

## The mental model

<CardGroup cols="3">
  <Card title="Inputs" icon="arrow-left">
    Data enters a node from the left. You can preview incoming fields by hovering the left edge.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Processing" icon="settings">
    The node transforms or uses the data according to its parameters.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Outputs" icon="arrow-right">
    Data leaves on the right. Hover the right edge to see the fields produced.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/kadabra/3pBSPoMMGpsJq-kO/images/Screenshot2025-10-14at8.29.59.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=3pBSPoMMGpsJq-kO&q=85&s=2bb4502d93ac2eaa0cae9552dc77bc7c" alt="Screenshot2025 10 14at8 29 59 Pn" width="1896" height="796" data-path="images/Screenshot2025-10-14at8.29.59.png" />
</Frame>

<Tip>
  Hover any connection line to see a live preview of the exact fields moving between nodes.
</Tip>

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/kadabra/SrBlTsn413wPT5vG/images/ScreenRecording2025-10-14at8.34.18-ezgif.com-video-to-gif-converter.gif?s=2b1ad8d2cc05eef02ba070131e839bd1" alt="Screen Recording2025 10 14at8 34 18 Ezgif Com Video To Gif Converter Gi" width="800" height="427" data-path="images/ScreenRecording2025-10-14at8.34.18-ezgif.com-video-to-gif-converter.gif" />
</Frame>

## Node categories

* **App nodes** - talk to external systems like Slack, Google Sheets, Notion.
* **AI nodes** - analyze or generate text based on your prompt.
* **Core nodes** - format, filter, merge, branch, and transform data.
* **Custom nodes** - call any API or run custom logic.

<Info>
  Data previews update as you test, so you can quickly verify shapes like arrays, objects, and text.
</Info>