Conditional Router

What Is a Conditional Router?

A Conditional Router is a workflow component or node that evaluates incoming data against one or more user-defined rules and directs the data to a specific downstream route based on which condition matches. Its purpose is to enable dynamic, rule-based branching in automation pipelines, AI chatbots, business process automation, and software architectures. Each output port corresponds to a possible routed outcome, determined by customizable rules using a variety of operators.

Key Capabilities:

• Receives input (text, structured objects, metadata, etc.)
• Applies user-defined conditions (e.g., equals, contains, is_email, regex)
• Activates exactly one output (route) per evaluation, except in some ETL contexts
• Supports deterministic, manageable flows in complex automations

How the Conditional Router Works

Core Logic

The Conditional Router compares incoming data to specified values or logical expressions using a set of configurable operators. Each condition is linked to a named output. The router checks conditions in order: the first true condition determines the output route. If no condition matches, the router triggers a default or fallback route (if configured).

Single-path Routing: Only one output is activated per evaluation (exclusive routing), except in some ETL frameworks.

Configurable Rules: Conditions are defined with operators and can reference multiple fields, including nested data.

Extensible: Supports logical composition, nested conditions, and custom expressions.

Evaluation Sequence

1. Input Reception: Receives data and optional metadata or parameters
2. Condition Evaluation: Sequentially evaluates each defined condition using the configured operators
3. Routing Decision: First condition that evaluates to true determines the output
4. Default Handling: If no conditions match, data is sent to a default route (if defined)
5. Downstream Processing: Data is passed to the next component or action

Inputs

Input parameters for Conditional Routers may vary by platform, but typically include:

Available Operators

Conditional Routers support a wide variety of operators for flexible routing:

Logical Operators: $and (all conditions must be true), $or (any condition true)

Outputs

Each Conditional Router node provides multiple output ports:

Named Output Ports: Each condition links to a named output.
Default Output: Handles unmatched data.
Data Forwarding: The original (or transformed) message/data is passed through the activated output.

Advanced Configuration

Logical Operators

To define multi-condition logic for a single route, use logical operators:

{
  "query": {
    "$and": [
      { "metadata.user_type": { "$eq": "pro" } },
      { "params.model": { "$eq": "gpt-4" } }
    ]
  },
  "then": "pro_gpt4_target"
}

Supports $and, $or, and even nested logical blocks.

Case Sensitivity

Configure whether string comparisons should be case-sensitive:

• case_sensitive: true for exact match
• case_sensitive: false for case-insensitive

Practical Examples

Example 1: Simple Text Match

Route user message to support if it contains the keyword “help”, otherwise route to the bot.

{
  "input_text": "I need help with my order",
  "match_text": "help",
  "operator": "contains",
  "case_sensitive": false
}

Example 2: Parameter-Based Model Selection

Route requests to different models based on the model parameter.

{
  "strategy": {
    "mode": "conditional",
    "conditions": [
      {
        "query": { "params.model": { "$eq": "fastest" } },
        "then": "fast-model"
      },
      {
        "query": { "params.model": { "$eq": "smartest" } },
        "then": "smart-model"
      }
    ],
    "default": "balanced-model"
  }
}

Example 3: Data Validation

Route based on input length:

routes = [
  {
    "condition": "{{ query|length > 10 }}",
    "output": ["{{ query }}", "{{ query|length }}"],
    "output_name": ["ok_query", "length"],
    "output_type": [str, int],
  },
  {
    "condition": "{{ query|length <= 10 }}",
    "output": ["query too short: {{ query }}", "{{ query|length }}"],
    "output_name": ["too_short_query", "length"],
    "output_type": [str, int],
  },
]

Example 4: Combined Metadata and Parameter Routing

Route enterprise users with high creativity requests to a premium model.

{
  "strategy": {
    "mode": "conditional",
    "conditions": [
      {
        "query": {
          "$and": [
            { "metadata.user_tier": { "$eq": "enterprise" } },
            { "params.temperature": { "$gte": 0.7 } }
          ]
        },
        "then": "creative-premium-target"
      }
    ],
    "default": "standard-target"
  }
}

Typical Use Cases

1. Branching Logic

Direct users to different dialog or process paths based on intent, content, or attributes. Orchestrate automation workflows that diverge depending on event or message data.

2. Validation and Filtering

Enforce input validation (e.g., required fields, correct formats). Detect and filter spam or inappropriate content.

3. Personalization and User Segmentation

Route premium vs. free users to different flows. Implement A/B testing by allocating users to experimental branches.

4. Model Selection and Feature Flags

Select AI models dynamically based on user segment or request properties. Enable/disable features using configuration flags.

5. Access Control and Compliance

Ensure data routing based on region for regulatory compliance. Apply role-based access restrictions using metadata.

Best Practices

Order of Conditions
Place specific conditions before generic ones to prevent premature matches.

Fail-Safe Defaults
Always configure a default output for unmatched data.

Testing
Validate logic with test data to ensure correct routing; use logging and analytics to monitor routing decisions.

Documentation
Comment or document complex conditions for maintainability.

Security
Avoid unsafe template evaluation unless essential and inputs are trusted.

Performance
Avoid excessive nesting or extremely complex conditions to keep routing fast and maintainable.

No-Code Accessibility
Use platforms providing graphical or no-code interfaces for broader accessibility.

Troubleshooting & FAQ

Q: What happens if multiple conditions match?
A: Only the first matching condition (in order) is selected; subsequent matches are ignored. In some ETL tools, data can be routed to multiple outputs.

Q: How do I route based on multiple fields?
A: Use logical operators ($and, $or) to combine conditions on multiple fields.

Q: What if a referenced field is missing?
A: The condition usually evaluates to false, and the router proceeds to the next condition or default.

Q: Can I use regex or advanced matching?
A: Yes, many routers support $regex or pattern-based operators.

Q: Is this suitable for non-developers?
A: Many platforms offer no-code configuration.

Q: Can I perform parallel routing?
A: Most routers are exclusive (single-path per evaluation). For parallel actions, use specialized multi-route or branching components.

References

• AWS Glue: Conditional Router
• FlowHunt: Conditional Router
• Haystack: ConditionalRouter
• Portkey AI: Conditional Routing
• Portkey AI: Combined Routing with Multiple Conditions
• Fluix: Conditional Logic Tutorial
• Slack: Conditional Branching Workflow Builder
• Slack: Guide to Slack Workflow Builder
• Frontline AI: Understanding Conditional Routing in AI Agent Flows
• Rapidomize: Conditional Routing
• FlowHunt: Live Demo
• Conditional Routing in Slack Workflow Builder (YouTube)
• How to Use Conditional Router in FlowHunt (YouTube)
• AWS Glue Conditional Router Tutorial (YouTube)