Which variables are retained in memory until managed by the Data Management configuration?

Process variables are retained in memory until they are managed by the Data Management configuration, making them a fundamental part of how Appian handles data during a process. Process variables are designed to store information about the state of a running process instance, including any user input, decisions made, and data retrieved from other systems. They exist throughout the lifecycle of a process, meaning they can be accessed and modified at any stage while the process is active.

In contrast, document variables, interface inputs, and rule inputs have different scopes and lifetimes. Document variables are specifically designed to hold binary files, like documents, and do not persist in the same way that process variables do. Interface inputs are mainly used for passing information into a user interface, but they only exist while a user interface is open and do not retain state once the interface is closed. Rule inputs serve as parameters for rules and calculations and are defined at the time of the rule execution, being temporarily stored during that execution but not retained after.

Understanding how each of these variable types operates within Appian's environment is crucial for effective application design and data management. Process variables provide the necessary persistence required for workflow management and data processing within long-running processes.