---
title: Connection Best Practices
description: Recommended patterns for effective connection management
---

import { Callout } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/callout'
import { Step, Steps } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/steps'

## Workflow Organization

### Organize Your Connections

Keep your workflow clean and understandable by organizing connections logically:

- **Minimize crossing connections** when possible to reduce visual complexity
- **Group related blocks together** to make data flow more intuitive
- **Use consistent flow direction** (typically left-to-right or top-to-bottom)
- **Label complex connections** with descriptive names

<Callout type="info">
  A well-organized workflow is easier to understand, debug, and maintain. Take time to arrange your
  blocks and connections in a logical manner.
</Callout>

### Connection Naming Conventions

When working with multiple connections, consistent naming helps maintain clarity:

<Steps>
  <Step>
    <strong>Use descriptive block names</strong>: Name blocks based on their function (e.g.,
    "UserDataFetcher", "ResponseGenerator")
  </Step>
  <Step>
    <strong>Be specific with connection references</strong>: Use clear variable names when
    referencing connections in code
  </Step>
  <Step>
    <strong>Document complex connections</strong>: Add comments explaining non-obvious data
    transformations
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Data Validation

### Validate Data Flow

Ensure that the data being passed between blocks is compatible:

- **Check that required fields are available** in the source block
- **Verify data types match expectations** before using them
- **Use Function blocks to transform data** when necessary
- **Handle missing or null values** with default values or conditional logic

```javascript
// Example: Validating and transforming data in a Function block
function processUserData() {
  // Validate required fields
  if (!input.userBlock || !input.userBlock.id) {
    return { error: 'Missing user data', valid: false }
  }

  // Transform and validate data types
  const userId = String(input.userBlock.id)
  const userName = input.userBlock.name || 'Unknown User'
  const userScore = Number(input.userBlock.score) || 0

  return {
    valid: true,
    user: {
      id: userId,
      name: userName,
      score: userScore,
      isHighScore: userScore > 100,
    },
  }
}
```

## Documentation

### Document Connection Purpose

Add comments or descriptions to clarify the purpose of connections, especially in complex workflows:

- **What data is being passed**: Document the key fields and their purpose
- **Why this connection exists**: Explain the relationship between blocks
- **Any transformations or conditions applied**: Note any data processing that occurs

```javascript
// Example: Documenting connection purpose in a Function block
/*
 * This function processes user data from the UserFetcher block
 * and order history from the OrderHistory block to generate
 * personalized product recommendations.
 *
 * Input:
 * - userBlock: User profile data (id, preferences, history)
 * - orderBlock: Recent order history (items, dates, amounts)
 *
 * Output:
 * - recommendations: Array of recommended product IDs
 * - userSegment: Calculated user segment for marketing
 * - conversionProbability: Estimated likelihood of purchase
 */
function generateRecommendations() {
  // Implementation...
}
```

## Testing and Debugging

### Test Connection References

Verify that connection references work as expected:

- **Test with different input values** to ensure robustness
- **Check edge cases** (empty values, large datasets, special characters)
- **Ensure error handling for missing or invalid data**
- **Use console logging in Function blocks** to debug connection issues

```javascript
// Example: Testing connection references with edge cases
function testConnections() {
  console.log('Testing connections...')

  // Log all inputs for debugging
  console.log('All inputs:', JSON.stringify(input, null, 2))

  // Test for missing data
  const hasUserData = !!input.userBlock
  console.log('Has user data:', hasUserData)

  // Test edge cases
  const items = input.orderBlock?.items || []
  console.log('Item count:', items.length)
  console.log('Empty items test:', items.length === 0 ? 'Passed' : 'Failed')

  // Return test results
  return {
    tests: {
      hasUserData,
      hasItems: items.length > 0,
      hasLargeOrder: items.length > 10,
    },
  }
}
```

## Performance Considerations

### Optimize Data Flow

Keep your workflows efficient by optimizing how data flows through connections:

- **Pass only necessary data** between blocks to reduce memory usage
- **Use Function blocks to filter large datasets** before passing them on
- **Consider caching results** for expensive operations
- **Break complex workflows into smaller, reusable components**

```javascript
// Example: Optimizing data flow by filtering
function optimizeUserData() {
  const userData = input.userBlock

  // Only pass necessary fields to downstream blocks
  return {
    id: userData.id,
    name: userData.name,
    email: userData.email,
    // Filter out unnecessary profile data, history, etc.
  }
}
```

## Security Best Practices

### Secure Sensitive Data

Protect sensitive information when using connections:

- **Never expose API keys or credentials** in connection data
- **Sanitize user input** before processing it
- **Redact sensitive information** when logging connection data
- **Use secure connections** for external API calls

<Callout type="warning">
  Be careful when logging connection data that might contain sensitive information. Always redact or
  mask sensitive fields like passwords, API keys, or personal information.
</Callout>

## Advanced Patterns

### Conditional Connections

Use Condition blocks to create dynamic workflows:

- **Route data based on content** to different processing paths
- **Implement fallback paths** for error handling
- **Create decision trees** for complex business logic

### Feedback Loops

Create more sophisticated workflows with feedback connections:

- **Implement iterative processing** by connecting later blocks back to earlier ones
- **Use Memory blocks** to store state between iterations
- **Set termination conditions** to prevent infinite loops
