workflow/docs/observability/index.mdx

Workflow SDK - Build durable, resilient, and observable workflows

---
title: Observability
description: Inspect, monitor, and debug workflows through the CLI and Web UI with powerful observability tools.
type: guide
summary: Inspect and debug workflow runs using the CLI and Web UI.
prerequisites:
  - /docs/foundations
related:
  - /docs/how-it-works/event-sourcing
  - /docs/how-it-works/encryption
---

Workflow SDK provides powerful tools to inspect, monitor, and debug your workflows through the CLI and Web UI. These tools allow you to inspect workflow runs, steps, webhooks, [events](/docs/how-it-works/event-sourcing), and stream output.

## Quick Start

```bash
npx workflow
```

The CLI comes pre-installed with the Workflow SDK and registers the `workflow` command. If the `workflow` package is not already installed, `npx workflow` will download and run the CLI temporarily, or use the local installed version if available.

Get started inspecting your local workflows:

```bash
# See all available commands
npx workflow inspect --help

# List recent workflow runs
npx workflow inspect runs
```

## Web UI

Workflow SDK ships with a local web UI for inspecting your workflows. The CLI
will locally serve the Web UI when using the `--web` flag.

```bash
# Launch Web UI for visual exploration
npx workflow inspect runs --web
```

![Workflow SDK Web UI](/o11y-ui.png)

To share a link to a specific run without opening a browser, use the `--url`
flag. It prints the dashboard deep link to stdout and exits (no browser, no
local server) — useful for scripts, PR comments, or automation. Add `--json` to
get `{ "url": "..." }`.

```bash
# Print the deep-link URL for a run (no browser, no server)
npx workflow inspect run <run_id> --url

# Vercel runs: add the backend (and --env preview for preview deployments)
npx workflow inspect run <run_id> --backend vercel --url
```

## Backends

The Workflow SDK CLI can inspect data from any [World](/docs/deploying). By default, it inspects data in your local development environment. For example, if you are using Next.js to develop workflows locally, the
CLI will find the data in your `.next/workflow-data/` directory.

If you're deploying workflows to a production environment, but want to inspect the data by using the CLI, you can specify the world you are using by setting the `--backend` flag to your world's name or package name, e.g. `vercel`.

<Callout>
Backends might require additional configuration. If you're missing environment variables, the World package should provide instructions on how to configure it.
</Callout>

### Vercel Backend

To inspect workflows running on Vercel, ensure you're logged in to the Vercel CLI and have linked your project. See [Vercel CLI authentication and project linking docs](https://vercel.com/docs/cli/project-linking) for more information. Then, simply specify the backend as `vercel`.

```bash
# Inspect workflows running on Vercel
npx workflow inspect runs --backend vercel
```

When deployed to Vercel, workflow data is [encrypted end-to-end](/docs/how-it-works/encryption). Encrypted fields display as locked placeholders until you choose to decrypt them using the **Decrypt** button in the web UI or the `--decrypt` flag in the CLI.