# Processes
### What is a Process?
A **process** is an automation workflow built using one or more procedures. It represents a complete business task, such as processing an invoice from receipt to payment.
### Process States
A process can exist in one of two states:
1. **Draft** – A version of the process for development and testing.
2. **Published** – A finalized, production-ready version of the process.
Processes are also versioned, allowing every update to be tracked. The **draft–publish** workflow ensures automations can be safely developed, tested, and deployed without disrupting business operations.
## Creating a Process
After testing your automation in the **Playground**, the next step is to save it as a **draft process**. A draft process allows you to formalize and iterate on your automation before publishing it to production.
{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**Convert a Playground**
Click Create Process after building your automation in the Playground.
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Name Your Process**
Give your process a name. For example:
* *validate the reports*
* *review the submissions*
* *to process the data*
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Create a Draft Process**
Click on Create a Draft Process.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}
{% embed url="" %}
## Publishing
When your draft is ready, you can **publish** it to make it production-ready. Publishing locks the process to prevent further edits, ensuring consistency across all runs. To publish your process, click on **Publish Process**.
## Editing
Once a process is created, you can edit it to make improvements or updates. Edits are made in a draft state, allowing you to test changes before publishing them live.
{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**Navigate to Processes**
From the left navigation menu, go to **Processes**.
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Select a Process**
Click on the process you want to edit.
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Open the Actions Menu**
Click the actions menu (⋮) in the top right corner.
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Edit in Draft**
Click **Edit**, then select **Edit in Draft** in the confirmation popup. Your draft is now open for editing.
{% hint style="warning" %}
Draft changes won't affect your process until you republish. All runs will continue using the previously published version. To make your changes live, navigate to **Processes** and click on **Publish Agent** at the top.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}