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

# Start a workflow run

> Start a workflow run in the background and get a run id at once.

If your account is busy, the run waits as `pending`. Read [Get a run](/api-reference/runs/get) until it is no longer `pending` or `running`, or set `webhook_url`. See [Webhooks](/api-reference/webhooks/overview). Send an `Idempotency-Key` to make retries safe.


## OpenAPI

````yaml POST /v1/workflows/{slug}/runs
openapi: 3.1.0
info:
  title: Valendata REST API
  version: 1.0.0
  description: >-
    Create, run, schedule, and improve skills and workflows over JSON and HTTPS.
    Every route is under `/v1`; changes inside v1 are additive only (new routes,
    new optional parameters, new response fields). A route that will go away is
    marked `deprecated` here and answers with `Deprecation`, `Sunset` and a
    `Link` to its replacement for at least six months before it is removed.
    Errors, limits, pagination and idempotency:
    https://docs.valendata.com/api-reference/errors.
  license:
    name: Proprietary
    url: https://www.valendata.com/terms-and-conditions
servers:
  - url: https://api.valendata.com
    description: Production
security:
  - ApiKeyAuth: []
  - ApiKeyHeader: []
tags:
  - name: Skills
    description: List, create, read, update, and delete skills.
  - name: Runs
    description: Run skills and workflows, read any run, and cancel one.
  - name: Skill versions
    description: List, compare, restore, and pin a skill's versions.
  - name: Improvements
    description: >-
      Fix a skill, add fields, or re-learn its detail steps, and read its change
      history.
  - name: Schedules
    description: Run a skill or workflow on a fixed cadence.
  - name: Workflows
    description: List, create, read, update, and delete workflows.
  - name: Logins
    description: Saved website logins a skill can sign in with.
  - name: Account and usage
    description: Your plan, credit balance, and usage.
  - name: Webhooks
    description: The secret that signs webhook deliveries.
paths:
  /v1/workflows/{slug}/runs:
    post:
      tags:
        - Runs
      summary: Start a workflow run
      description: >-
        Checks the inputs, starts the run and answers at once with a `run_id`.
        If your account is at its limit of runs in progress, the run waits as
        `pending`. Poll `GET /v1/workflow-runs/{run_id}` or pass `webhook_url`
        to receive the finished run as a signed POST.
      operationId: start_workflow_run
      parameters:
        - name: slug
          in: path
          required: true
          schema:
            type: string
            title: Slug
          example: test-workflow-api
        - $ref: '#/components/parameters/IdempotencyKey'
      requestBody:
        required: true
        content:
          application/json:
            schema:
              $ref: '#/components/schemas/RunWorkflowRequest'
            example:
              inputs:
                limit: 3
              webhook_url: https://example.com/hooks/valendata
      responses:
        '202':
          description: Run started (or the existing one, for a repeated Idempotency-Key).
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/StartWorkflowRunResponse'
          headers:
            X-Request-ID:
              $ref: '#/components/headers/X-Request-ID'
            X-RateLimit-Limit:
              $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Limit'
            X-RateLimit-Remaining:
              $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Remaining'
            X-RateLimit-Reset:
              $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Reset'
            Idempotent-Replayed:
              $ref: '#/components/headers/Idempotent-Replayed'
        '400':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/BadRequest'
        '401':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/Unauthorized'
        '402':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/PaymentRequired'
        '403':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/Forbidden'
        '404':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/NotFound'
        '409':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/Conflict'
        '422':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/Unprocessable'
        '429':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/RateLimited'
        '500':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/InternalError'
      security:
        - ApiKeyAuth: []
        - ApiKeyHeader: []
components:
  parameters:
    IdempotencyKey:
      name: Idempotency-Key
      in: header
      required: false
      schema:
        type: string
        minLength: 1
        maxLength: 255
      description: >-
        Any unique string (such as your order id). Resending the same request
        with the same key within 24 hours returns the first answer (with
        `Idempotent-Replayed: true`) and does nothing twice; the same key with a
        different request is a 422 `idempotency_key_reused`.
      example: order-1234
  schemas:
    RunWorkflowRequest:
      properties:
        inputs:
          additionalProperties: true
          type: object
          title: Inputs
          description: >-
            The workflow's inputs (see input_schema on GET
            /v1/workflows/{slug}).
        wait:
          anyOf:
            - type: integer
              maximum: 120
              minimum: 0
            - type: 'null'
          title: Wait
          description: >-
            /run only: seconds to wait for the result (default 60, max 120).
            Still running then → 202 with run_id and status_url.
        webhook_url:
          anyOf:
            - type: string
            - type: 'null'
          title: Webhook Url
          description: >-
            https URL that receives the finished run as a signed POST
            (X-Valendata-Signature).
      type: object
      title: RunWorkflowRequest
      description: >-
        Body of POST /v1/workflows/{slug}/run (waits) and /runs (answers at
        once).
    StartWorkflowRunResponse:
      properties:
        run_id:
          type: string
          title: Run Id
        status:
          type: string
          title: Status
        status_url:
          type: string
          title: Status Url
        idempotent_replay:
          type: boolean
          title: Idempotent Replay
          default: false
      type: object
      required:
        - run_id
        - status
        - status_url
      title: StartWorkflowRunResponse
    Error:
      type: object
      required:
        - detail
        - code
        - type
        - request_id
      properties:
        detail:
          description: What went wrong. A string, or an object for errors with more to say.
          oneOf:
            - type: string
            - additionalProperties: true
              type: object
        code:
          type: string
          description: >-
            Stable machine-readable code. Known values: `bad_request`,
            `invalid_json`, `invalid_cursor`, `invalid_idempotency_key`,
            `unauthorized`, `payment_required`, `permission_denied`,
            `not_found`, `method_not_allowed`, `conflict`,
            `idempotency_key_in_use`, `idempotent_replay_unavailable`,
            `payload_too_large`, `unsupported_media_type`, `validation_error`,
            `idempotency_key_reused`, `rate_limited`, `internal_error`,
            `upstream_error`, `service_unavailable`.
          example: not_found
        type:
          type: string
          enum:
            - invalid_request_error
            - authentication_error
            - billing_error
            - permission_error
            - conflict_error
            - idempotency_error
            - rate_limit_error
            - api_error
          description: The broad category of the error.
        request_id:
          type: string
          description: Also in the `X-Request-ID` header.
          example: 3f9a1c2b7d4e
        param:
          type: string
          description: >-
            The field at fault, on validation errors (dotted path, e.g.
            `inputs.city`).
        errors:
          type: array
          items:
            additionalProperties: true
            type: object
          description: Every validation problem, on a 422 from request validation.
  headers:
    X-Request-ID:
      description: >-
        This request's id (yours, if you sent a valid `X-Request-ID`). Quote it
        to support.
      schema:
        type: string
    X-RateLimit-Limit:
      description: Requests a minute this API key may make.
      schema:
        type: integer
    X-RateLimit-Remaining:
      description: Requests left in the current minute.
      schema:
        type: integer
    X-RateLimit-Reset:
      description: Unix time (seconds) the current window ends.
      schema:
        type: integer
    Idempotent-Replayed:
      description: >-
        `true` when this is the stored answer to an earlier request with the
        same Idempotency-Key.
      schema:
        type: string
    Retry-After:
      description: Seconds to wait before retrying.
      schema:
        type: integer
  responses:
    BadRequest:
      description: >-
        The request is malformed: the body is not JSON, the cursor or
        Idempotency-Key is not valid.
      headers:
        X-RateLimit-Limit:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Limit'
        X-RateLimit-Remaining:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Remaining'
        X-RateLimit-Reset:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Reset'
        X-Request-ID:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-Request-ID'
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
          example:
            detail: >-
              The request is malformed: the body is not JSON, the cursor or
              Idempotency-Key is not valid.
            code: invalid_json
            type: invalid_request_error
            request_id: 3f9a1c2b7d4e
    Unauthorized:
      description: The API key is missing, malformed, revoked, or expired.
      headers:
        X-RateLimit-Limit:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Limit'
        X-RateLimit-Remaining:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Remaining'
        X-RateLimit-Reset:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Reset'
        X-Request-ID:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-Request-ID'
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
          example:
            detail: The API key is missing, malformed, revoked, or expired.
            code: unauthorized
            type: authentication_error
            request_id: 3f9a1c2b7d4e
    PaymentRequired:
      description: >-
        Not enough credits to start. `detail` includes `current_balance` and
        `required`.
      headers:
        X-RateLimit-Limit:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Limit'
        X-RateLimit-Remaining:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Remaining'
        X-RateLimit-Reset:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Reset'
        X-Request-ID:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-Request-ID'
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
          example:
            detail: >-
              Not enough credits to start. `detail` includes `current_balance`
              and `required`.
            code: payment_required
            type: billing_error
            request_id: 3f9a1c2b7d4e
    Forbidden:
      description: >-
        The key lacks a scope, is limited to other skills or workflows, or you
        may not do this.
      headers:
        X-RateLimit-Limit:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Limit'
        X-RateLimit-Remaining:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Remaining'
        X-RateLimit-Reset:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Reset'
        X-Request-ID:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-Request-ID'
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
          example:
            detail: >-
              The key lacks a scope, is limited to other skills or workflows, or
              you may not do this.
            code: permission_denied
            type: permission_error
            request_id: 3f9a1c2b7d4e
    NotFound:
      description: It does not exist, or it is not yours to see.
      headers:
        X-RateLimit-Limit:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Limit'
        X-RateLimit-Remaining:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Remaining'
        X-RateLimit-Reset:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Reset'
        X-Request-ID:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-Request-ID'
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
          example:
            detail: It does not exist, or it is not yours to see.
            code: not_found
            type: invalid_request_error
            request_id: 3f9a1c2b7d4e
    Conflict:
      description: >-
        A conflict with the current state, or a request with this
        Idempotency-Key is still running.
      headers:
        X-RateLimit-Limit:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Limit'
        X-RateLimit-Remaining:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Remaining'
        X-RateLimit-Reset:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Reset'
        X-Request-ID:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-Request-ID'
        Retry-After:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/Retry-After'
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
          example:
            detail: >-
              A conflict with the current state, or a request with this
              Idempotency-Key is still running.
            code: conflict
            type: conflict_error
            request_id: 3f9a1c2b7d4e
    Unprocessable:
      description: >-
        A field is invalid (`param` names it), or the Idempotency-Key was used
        with a different request.
      headers:
        X-RateLimit-Limit:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Limit'
        X-RateLimit-Remaining:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Remaining'
        X-RateLimit-Reset:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Reset'
        X-Request-ID:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-Request-ID'
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
          example:
            detail: 'Invalid request — name: Field required'
            code: validation_error
            type: invalid_request_error
            request_id: 3f9a1c2b7d4e
            param: name
            errors:
              - type: missing
                loc:
                  - body
                  - name
                msg: Field required
    RateLimited:
      description: >-
        Too many requests for this key, or too many runs in progress. Wait
        `Retry-After` seconds.
      headers:
        X-RateLimit-Limit:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Limit'
        X-RateLimit-Remaining:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Remaining'
        X-RateLimit-Reset:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Reset'
        X-Request-ID:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-Request-ID'
        Retry-After:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/Retry-After'
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
          example:
            detail: >-
              Too many requests for this key, or too many runs in progress. Wait
              `Retry-After` seconds.
            code: rate_limited
            type: rate_limit_error
            request_id: 3f9a1c2b7d4e
    InternalError:
      description: >-
        Something broke on our side. Retry; runs that fail on our side are
        refunded.
      headers:
        X-RateLimit-Limit:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Limit'
        X-RateLimit-Remaining:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Remaining'
        X-RateLimit-Reset:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-RateLimit-Reset'
        X-Request-ID:
          $ref: '#/components/headers/X-Request-ID'
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
          example:
            detail: >-
              Something broke on our side. Retry; runs that fail on our side are
              refunded.
            code: internal_error
            type: api_error
            request_id: 3f9a1c2b7d4e
  securitySchemes:
    ApiKeyAuth:
      type: http
      scheme: bearer
      bearerFormat: vd_sk_...
      description: >-
        API key with the `vd_sk_` prefix, as `Authorization: Bearer vd_sk_...`.
        Create keys in Settings → API Keys.
    ApiKeyHeader:
      type: apiKey
      in: header
      name: x-api-key
      description: The same API key in the `x-api-key` header.

````

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