Conversation Flows Overview
Conversation Flows are Retell’s visual editor for building complex, multi-step phone conversations.
Why Flows?
- Single prompts work for simple calls, but real-world calls often need:
- Branching logic (“If they say X, do Y”)
- API calls mid-conversation (check inventory, look up a record)
- Strict ordering of steps
- Different handling based on caller responses
Flow Components
- Nodes — individual steps in the conversation
- Edges — connections between nodes that define transitions
- Global Settings — rules that apply across all nodes (language, voice, etc.)
Node Types
| Node | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Conversation | Agent speaks and listens — the core interaction node |
| Function Call | Call an external API (CRM lookup, availability check) |
| Code | Run JavaScript for custom logic |
| Logic Split | Branch based on conditions |
| Transfer | Transfer the call to a human or another number |
| End | End the call |
| Press Digit | Navigate IVR menus |
| Wait for Input | Pause and wait for the caller to respond |
When to Use Flows vs Single Prompt
- Use Single Prompt when the conversation is free-form and simple
- Use Flows when you need predictable structure, branching, or mid-call API calls