How does a Platform Event-triggered flow operate?

A Platform Event-triggered flow operates by initiating a flow when a specific platform event message is received. Platform events are Salesforce's way of allowing apps to communicate with each other in real-time. When an event is published, it triggers the flow, allowing automation processes to respond instantly to the event without requiring any user interaction or dependence on a record being created.

This means that the flow is directly tied to the publication and reception of platform events, enabling scenarios like responding to external system notifications, handling changes in the environment, and more. The ability to subscribe to and respond to these events is at the heart of the Platform Event architecture, allowing seamless integration and automation in applications.

In contrast, other options suggest scenarios that do not align with how platform events function. For example, the idea of being wholly based on user input reflects standard flow triggers, not platform events, which act autonomously. Similarly, while records created in Salesforce can trigger workflows, that concept does not relate to platform events, which are independent of records. Additionally, while Apex classes can interact with platform events, the triggering of the flow itself does not necessitate the use of Apex, making this relationship unnecessary for defining how a Platform Event-triggered flow operates.