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version: "1.0.1" name: step-functions description: AWS Step Functions workflow orchestration with state machines. Use when designing workflows, implementing error handling, configuring parallel execution, integrating with AWS services, or debugging executions. last_updated: "2026-01-07" doc_source: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/step-functions/latest/dg/

AWS Step Functions

AWS Step Functions is a serverless orchestration service that lets you build and run workflows using state machines. Coordinate multiple AWS services into business-critical applications.

Core Concepts
Common Patterns
CLI Reference
Best Practices
Troubleshooting
References

Core Concepts

Workflow Types

Type	Description	Pricing
Standard	Long-running, durable, exactly-once	Per state transition
Express	High-volume, short-duration	Per execution (time + memory)

State Types

State	Description
Task	Execute work (Lambda, API call)
Choice	Conditional branching
Parallel	Execute branches concurrently
Map	Iterate over array
Wait	Delay execution
Pass	Pass input to output
Succeed	End successfully
Fail	End with failure

Amazon States Language (ASL)

JSON-based language for defining state machines.

Common Patterns

Simple Lambda Workflow

json

{
  "Comment": "Process order workflow",
  "StartAt": "ValidateOrder",
  "States": {
    "ValidateOrder": {
      "Type": "Task",
      "Resource": "arn:aws:lambda:us-east-1:123456789012:function:ValidateOrder",
      "Next": "ProcessPayment"
    },
    "ProcessPayment": {
      "Type": "Task",
      "Resource": "arn:aws:lambda:us-east-1:123456789012:function:ProcessPayment",
      "Next": "FulfillOrder"
    },
    "FulfillOrder": {
      "Type": "Task",
      "Resource": "arn:aws:lambda:us-east-1:123456789012:function:FulfillOrder",
      "End": true
    }
  }
}

Create State Machine

AWS CLI:

bash

aws stepfunctions create-state-machine \
  --name OrderWorkflow \
  --definition file://workflow.json \
  --role-arn arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/StepFunctionsRole \
  --type STANDARD

boto3:

python

import boto3
import json
sfn = boto3.client('stepfunctions')
definition = {
    "Comment": "Order workflow",
    "StartAt": "ProcessOrder",
    "States": {
        "ProcessOrder": {
            "Type": "Task",
            "Resource": "arn:aws:lambda:...",
            "End": True
        }
    }
}
response = sfn.create_state_machine(
    name='OrderWorkflow',
    definition=json.dumps(definition),
    roleArn='arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/StepFunctionsRole',
    type='STANDARD'
)

Start Execution

python

import boto3
import json
sfn = boto3.client('stepfunctions')
response = sfn.start_execution(
    stateMachineArn='arn:aws:states:us-east-1:123456789012:stateMachine:OrderWorkflow',
    name='order-12345',
    input=json.dumps({
        'order_id': '12345',
        'customer_id': 'cust-789',
        'items': [{'product_id': 'prod-1', 'quantity': 2}]
    })
)
execution_arn = response['executionArn']

Choice State (Conditional Logic)

json

{
  "StartAt": "CheckOrderValue",
  "States": {
    "CheckOrderValue": {
      "Type": "Choice",
      "Choices": [
        {
          "Variable": "$.total",
          "NumericGreaterThan": 1000,
          "Next": "HighValueOrder"
        },
        {
          "Variable": "$.priority",
          "StringEquals": "rush",
          "Next": "RushOrder"
        }
      ],
      "Default": "StandardOrder"
    },
    "HighValueOrder": {
      "Type": "Task",
      "Resource": "arn:aws:lambda:...:function:ProcessHighValue",
      "End": true
    },
    "RushOrder": {
      "Type": "Task",
      "Resource": "arn:aws:lambda:...:function:ProcessRush",
      "End": true
    },
    "StandardOrder": {
      "Type": "Task",
      "Resource": "arn:aws:lambda:...:function:ProcessStandard",
      "End": true
    }
  }
}

Parallel Execution

json

{
  "StartAt": "ProcessInParallel",
  "States": {
    "ProcessInParallel": {
      "Type": "Parallel",
      "Branches": [
        {
          "StartAt": "UpdateInventory",
          "States": {
            "UpdateInventory": {
              "Type": "Task",
              "Resource": "arn:aws:lambda:...:function:UpdateInventory",
              "End": true
            }
          }
        },
        {
          "StartAt": "SendNotification",
          "States": {
            "SendNotification": {
              "Type": "Task",
              "Resource": "arn:aws:lambda:...:function:SendNotification",
              "End": true
            }
          }
        },
        {
          "StartAt": "UpdateAnalytics",
          "States": {
            "UpdateAnalytics": {
              "Type": "Task",
              "Resource": "arn:aws:lambda:...:function:UpdateAnalytics",
              "End": true
            }
          }
        }
      ],
      "Next": "Complete"
    },
    "Complete": {
      "Type": "Succeed"
    }
  }
}

Map State (Iteration)

json

{
  "StartAt": "ProcessItems",
  "States": {
    "ProcessItems": {
      "Type": "Map",
      "ItemsPath": "$.items",
      "MaxConcurrency": 10,
      "Iterator": {
        "StartAt": "ProcessItem",
        "States": {
          "ProcessItem": {
            "Type": "Task",
            "Resource": "arn:aws:lambda:...:function:ProcessItem",
            "End": true
          }
        }
      },
      "ResultPath": "$.processedItems",
      "End": true
    }
  }
}

Error Handling

json

{
  "StartAt": "ProcessWithRetry",
  "States": {
    "ProcessWithRetry": {
      "Type": "Task",
      "Resource": "arn:aws:lambda:...:function:Process",
      "Retry": [
        {
          "ErrorEquals": ["Lambda.ServiceException", "Lambda.TooManyRequestsException"],
          "IntervalSeconds": 2,
          "MaxAttempts": 6,
          "BackoffRate": 2
        },
        {
          "ErrorEquals": ["States.Timeout"],
          "IntervalSeconds": 5,
          "MaxAttempts": 3,
          "BackoffRate": 1.5
        }
      ],
      "Catch": [
        {
          "ErrorEquals": ["CustomError"],
          "ResultPath": "$.error",
          "Next": "HandleCustomError"
        },
        {
          "ErrorEquals": ["States.ALL"],
          "ResultPath": "$.error",
          "Next": "HandleAllErrors"
        }
      ],
      "End": true
    },
    "HandleCustomError": {
      "Type": "Task",
      "Resource": "arn:aws:lambda:...:function:HandleCustom",
      "End": true
    },
    "HandleAllErrors": {
      "Type": "Fail",
      "Error": "ProcessingFailed",
      "Cause": "An error occurred during processing"
    }
  }
}

CLI Reference

State Machine Management

Command	Description
`aws stepfunctions create-state-machine`	Create state machine
`aws stepfunctions update-state-machine`	Update definition
`aws stepfunctions delete-state-machine`	Delete state machine
`aws stepfunctions list-state-machines`	List state machines
`aws stepfunctions describe-state-machine`	Get details

Executions

Command	Description
`aws stepfunctions start-execution`	Start execution
`aws stepfunctions stop-execution`	Stop execution
`aws stepfunctions describe-execution`	Get execution details
`aws stepfunctions list-executions`	List executions
`aws stepfunctions get-execution-history`	Get execution history

Best Practices

Design

Keep states focused — one purpose per state
Use meaningful state names
Implement comprehensive error handling
Use Parallel for independent tasks
Use Map for batch processing

Performance

Use Express workflows for high-volume, short tasks
Set appropriate timeouts
Limit Map concurrency to avoid throttling
Use SDK integrations when possible (avoid Lambda wrapper)

Reliability

Retry transient errors
Catch and handle specific errors
Use idempotent operations
Enable X-Ray tracing

Cost Optimization

Use Express for short workflows (< 5 minutes)
Combine related operations to reduce transitions
Use Wait states instead of Lambda delays

Troubleshooting

Execution Failed

bash

# Get execution history
aws stepfunctions get-execution-history \
  --execution-arn arn:aws:states:us-east-1:123456789012:execution:MyWorkflow:exec-123 \
  --query 'events[?type==`TaskFailed` || type==`ExecutionFailed`]'

Lambda Timeout

Causes:

Lambda running too long
Task timeout too short

Fix:

json

{
  "Type": "Task",
  "Resource": "arn:aws:lambda:...",
  "TimeoutSeconds": 300,
  "HeartbeatSeconds": 60
}

State Stuck

Check:

Task state waiting for callback
Wait state not yet elapsed
Activity worker not responding

Invalid State Machine

bash

# Validate definition
aws stepfunctions validate-state-machine-definition \
  --definition file://workflow.json

References

← v1.0.0 All versions

Skill v1.0.1

AWS Step Functions

Table of Contents

Core Concepts

Workflow Types

State Types

Amazon States Language (ASL)

Common Patterns

Simple Lambda Workflow

Create State Machine

Start Execution

Choice State (Conditional Logic)

Parallel Execution

Map State (Iteration)

Error Handling

CLI Reference

State Machine Management

Executions

Best Practices

Design

Performance

Reliability

Cost Optimization

Troubleshooting

Execution Failed

Lambda Timeout

State Stuck

Invalid State Machine

References