# Connector nodes

> Connector nodes that integrate third-party services directly on the canvas with pre-built operations.

## What they are

Connector nodes let you interact with third-party services directly from the canvas, with no manual HTTP configuration. Each connector provides pre-built nodes for a specific service (e.g., GitHub, Salesforce, Slack, Microsoft 365), with typed inputs, typed outputs, and automatic authentication through Integration Service.

Connector nodes appear in the node palette under the **Connector** category, grouped by service.

## How they work

Connector nodes are loaded dynamically from UiPath's Integration Service. The available connectors depend on what's configured in your Automation Cloud organization. Each connector node maps to a specific API operation on the target service.

When you add a connector node to the canvas, Flow fetches its input schema and renders a dynamic configuration form in the properties panel. You fill in the required fields, select a connection for authentication, and the node handles the API call at runtime.

![Node palette open to the GitHub connector package, showing individual nodes such as GitHub HTTP Request, Delete Record, Update Record, List All Records, and Merge Pull Request.](https://dev-assets.cms.uipath.com/assets/images/maestro/flow-conenctors-fda68908.webp)

## Configuration

### Connection

Every connector node requires a **connection**, a pre-configured authentication credential managed in Integration Service. The connection is selected in the properties panel when configuring the node.

Connections handle token refresh, OAuth flows, and credential storage automatically. Auth headers and secrets are not managed directly.

:::note
Connections are configured in the UiPath Automation Cloud portal under Integration Service. Refer to the [Integration Service documentation](https://docs.uipath.com/integration-service) for setup instructions.
:::

### Node-specific inputs

Each connector node has its own input fields based on the API operation it wraps. The properties panel renders these dynamically. You'll see different fields for a "Create Issue" node than for a "List Repositories" node, even within the same connector.

All input fields support variable expressions (`$vars.<nodeName>.<property>`).

### Output

Connector node output is available at `$vars.<nodeName>.output`. The shape of the output depends on the specific node and the API it calls.

```javascript
// Access the output of a GitHub connector node named "listBranches1"
$vars.listBranches1.output
```

### Error handling

Connector nodes support error handles. If the API call fails and an error handle is connected, execution routes to the error path with the standard error object at `$vars.<nodeName>.error`.

Refer to [Error handling](flow-error-handling.md) for details.

## Connector triggers

Some connectors also provide **triggers**: start events that fire when something happens in the external service (e.g., a new email arrives, a form is submitted). Connector triggers appear in the Triggers section of the node palette.

Trigger inputs are owned by the trigger and accessed as `$vars.<triggerName>.output.<inputName>`. Refer to [Triggers](triggers.md) for details.

## When to use a connector vs HTTP Request

| Use a connector node when... | Use HTTP Request when... |
|---|---|
| A connector exists for your target service | No connector exists for the service |
| You want typed inputs and outputs with no manual configuration | You need full control over headers, query parameters, and body |
| You want automatic authentication via Integration Service | The API uses a non-standard auth scheme |
| You want a maintainable process that adapts to API changes | You're prototyping against a new or internal API |

**Rule of thumb:** The node palette is the first place to check for a connector. HTTP Request is the fallback when no connector exists for the target service.

## Available connectors

The full list of available connectors depends on your Automation Cloud organization and Integration Service configuration. For connector-specific documentation, including setup, authentication, and available nodes, refer to the UiPath Integration Service documentation:

**[Integration Service connectors documentation](https://docs.uipath.com/integration-service/automation-cloud/latest/user-guide/connectors)**

## Related pages

- **[HTTP Request node](node-http-request.md)**: general-purpose API calls when no connector exists
- **[Triggers](triggers.md)**: connector-based triggers and other trigger types
- **[Error handling](flow-error-handling.md)**: handling failures from connector nodes
- **[Variables and data flow](variables-and-data-flow.md)**: accessing connector output with `$vars`