What is the purpose of data objects?

• A. Data objects are used to show data flowing through a process, by passing information into or out of an activity.
• B. Data objects are used to create data-based report objects.
• C. Data objects are used to keep track of user traffic related to various process activities.
• D. Data objects are used to calculate and report data rules in an application.

Answer: (A)

Data objects in Appian are containers for values that travel through a process. They hold data as the process executes and are the mechanism by which information is passed from one activity to another. By wiring a data object to an activity’s input, you define what the activity receives; by reading or updating the same data object within or after the activity, you control what the next step works with. This makes it easy to model real-world data movement: collect form data, pass it to a workflow task, then carry the results to the next step. Because data objects are all about the flow of data through the process, they are the right fit for representing how information enters and exits activities, rather than for creating separate reports, tracking user traffic, or computing rules for reporting. So the primary purpose is to show data flowing through a process by passing information into or out of an activity.