workflow/docs/api-reference/workflow-api/start.mdx

Workflow DevKit - Build durable, resilient, and observable workflows

---
title: start
description: Start and enqueue a new workflow run.
type: reference
summary: Use start to programmatically enqueue a new workflow run from outside a workflow function.
prerequisites:
  - /docs/foundations/starting-workflows
---

Start/enqueue a new workflow run.

```typescript lineNumbers
import { start } from "workflow/api";
import { myWorkflow } from "./workflows/my-workflow";

const run = await start(myWorkflow); // [!code highlight]
```

## API Signature

### Parameters

<TSDoc
definition={`
import { start } from "workflow/api";
export default start;`}
showSections={["parameters"]}
/>

#### StartOptions

<TSDoc
definition={`
import type { StartOptions } from "workflow/api";
export default StartOptions;`}
/>

### Returns

Returns a `Run` object:

<TSDoc
definition={`
import { Run } from "workflow/api";
export default Run;`}
showSections={["returns"]}
/>

Learn more about [`WorkflowReadableStreamOptions`](/docs/api-reference/workflow-api/get-run#workflowreadablestreamoptions).

## Good to Know

* The `start()` function is used in runtime/non-workflow contexts to programmatically trigger workflow executions.
* This is different from calling workflow functions directly, which is the typical pattern in Next.js applications.
* The function returns immediately after enqueuing the workflow - it doesn't wait for the workflow to complete.
* All arguments must be [serializable](/docs/foundations/serialization).

## Examples

### With Arguments

```typescript
import { start } from "workflow/api";
import { userSignupWorkflow } from "./workflows/user-signup";

const run = await start(userSignupWorkflow, ["user@example.com"]); // [!code highlight]
```

### With `StartOptions`

```typescript
import { start } from "workflow/api";
import { myWorkflow } from "./workflows/my-workflow";

const run = await start(myWorkflow, ["arg1", "arg2"], { // [!code highlight]
  deploymentId: "custom-deployment-id" // [!code highlight]
}); // [!code highlight]
```