# Input / Output

The **Input** and **Output** components are required for every Agentic Flow. The Playground is only available when both are present.

---

## Input

The entry point for the flow. Receives the user’s message or trigger payload and passes it downstream.

**Use in a flow**

1. Add an **Input** node to the canvas (typically at the start of the flow).
2. Connect the **Message** output to downstream components (for example, an Agent, Prompt, or Tool Calling Agent).
3. Optionally connect **Conversation History** if a downstream step needs prior messages.

```
Input (Message) ──► Agent / Prompt / Processing ──► Output
```

In the Playground, users type messages in the **Text** field. When the flow runs via API or channels, the message or trigger payload passes through the same output.

**Parameters**

| Parameter | Default | Hidden | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Text | — | No | The message to pass as input. Used in the Playground and when no external input is wired. |
| Conversation History | — | No | Prior conversation messages to include as context. |
| Store Messages | true | Yes | Whether to store the message in chat history. |
| Sender Type | User | Yes | Identifies the sender as User or Language Model. |
| Sender Name | User | Yes | Display name for the sender. |
| Session ID | — | Yes | Chat session identifier. Uses the current session if empty. |
| Files | — | Yes | Files to attach with the message (PDF, DOCX, Excel, PPTX, images, text). |
| Background Color | — | Yes | Background color for the message icon in chat. |
| Icon | — | Yes | Icon for the message in chat. |
| Text Color | — | Yes | Text color for the sender name in chat. |

**Outputs**

| Output | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Message | The user’s input as a message. Connect to downstream components. |
| Conversation History | Conversation history as a message. Use when downstream steps need chat context. |

---

## Output

The exit point of the flow. Returns the final result to the caller or connected channel.

**Use in a flow**

1. Add an **Output** node to the canvas (typically at the end of the flow).
2. Connect the final response to **Text** (from an Agent, LLM, or other component that produces a message).
3. Run the flow in the Playground or via API to see the result.

```
Agent / LLM ──► Output (Text)
Input ──► ... ──► Output
```

**Parameters**

| Parameter | Default | Hidden | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Text | — | No | The bot response to display. Accepts Message, Data, or DataFrame input. |
| Store Messages | true | Yes | Whether to store the message in chat history. |
| Sender Type | Language Model | Yes | Identifies the sender as User or Language Model. |
| Sender Name | AI | Yes | Display name for the sender. |
| Session ID | — | Yes | Chat session identifier. |
| Background Color | — | Yes | Background color for the message icon. |
| Icon | — | Yes | Icon for the message. |
| Text Color | — | Yes | Text color for the sender name. |
| Channel Delivery | false | No | When enabled, delivers the message to configured outbound channels. |
| Assume Policy | — | No | Access policy for channel delivery and resource access. |

When **Channel Delivery** is enabled, open **Controls** to configure delivery targets, routing, and LLM settings for outbound channels.

**Outputs**

| Output | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Message | The formatted response message returned by the flow. |