# Triggers

A trigger is an event that starts a flow. A trigger can either be an event that occurs within MessageBird or an event that occurs within an external [connector](https://docs.bird.com/applications/integrations/integrations).

<figure><img src="https://3861485111-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FU9kiDiTGVD8kkbnKKyEn%2Fuploads%2FbDzGfmEM5tFZ48pTNRCv%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=d4abf0f2-fd8a-483d-8954-410996c6e222" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Trigger types

There are eight types of trigger:

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Agent</strong></td><td>Run a flow when an agent's availability changes.</td><td></td><td><a href="triggers/agent-triggers">agent-triggers</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Connector</strong></td><td>Run a flow when an event happens in an installed connector.</td><td></td><td><a href="triggers/connector-triggers">connector-triggers</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Contact</strong></td><td>Run a flow when a contact profile is created, updated, or deleted.</td><td></td><td><a href="triggers/contact-triggers">contact-triggers</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Conversation</strong></td><td>Run a flow when an Inbox conversation is created or updated</td><td></td><td><a href="triggers/conversation-triggers">conversation-triggers</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Feed item</strong></td><td>Run a flow when an Inbox conversation is created, assigned, archived, or closed.</td><td></td><td><a href="triggers/feed-item-triggers">feed-item-triggers</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Message lifecycle</strong></td><td>Scan, filter, and configure message payloads for better deliverability rates and for content redaction.</td><td></td><td><a href="triggers/message-lifecycle-triggers">message-lifecycle-triggers</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Webhook</strong></td><td>Run a flow using a webhook when data is pushed to MessageBird.</td><td></td><td><a href="triggers/webhook-triggers">webhook-triggers</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Voice</strong></td><td>Run a flow when a Voice event happens.</td><td></td><td><a href="triggers/voice-triggers">voice-triggers</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

## Set up a trigger

### Choose your flow trigger and trigger event

1. On the side panel, click **Flows**.
2. In the top right-hand corner, click the **New flow** button.

<figure><img src="https://3861485111-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FU9kiDiTGVD8kkbnKKyEn%2Fuploads%2F3wkW0vOPocJs6jF1J8xA%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=5c07bd65-f924-45fb-8008-07d65ab62db0" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

3. Select the trigger types.&#x20;
4. Depending on the trigger you choose, you may need to select a channel instance or a connector to use with the trigger.
5. Select one of the trigger events. This is the specific event that will cause your flow to run.

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6. Click **Save.**

### Test your trigger

Perform the event that will cause your flow to run, then click **Update test data**. MessageBird will attempt to find a recent event from your trigger to use in the flow.

For example, if you set up your trigger to run when a new message is sent to your business' WhatsApp number, send a message to that number, then click **Update test data**.

The information from the message you sent to your business WhatsApp number will be pulled in and displayed in the test window.&#x20;

The data from your test can be used in actions later on in the setup of your flow.

You can also choose to **Skip test**.

<figure><img src="https://3861485111-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FU9kiDiTGVD8kkbnKKyEn%2Fuploads%2FfEaIQUg84CA5HexSyV03%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=a9b736bd-8daf-4f62-b37e-f6463f90fe21" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Once you've set up your trigger, continue to build your flow by [adding actions](https://docs.bird.com/applications/automation/flows/concepts/actions).