Code by Zapier: Add customized code to your workflows

One of many best advantages of utilizing Zapier to automate your work is that you simply needn’t use code. You’ll be able to construct Zaps (our phrase for automated workflows), types, brokers, chatbots, and tables with out understanding any programming language. 

There might come a time, nonetheless, when that you must do one thing a bit of extra superior. Maybe you recognize precisely what you wish to automate, however Zapier’s present actions or triggers cannot make it occur. Or possibly you are getting data from App A, nevertheless it’s not in the precise format for App B, and it might take a number of steps to get there in any other case. 

That is the place Code by Zapier is available in. It is a built-in device particularly for including the “code” again into “no-code,” so you possibly can totally customise your workflows—and even form AI-generated knowledge, like formatting AI outputs or including guardrails to maintain content material constant. And here is the twist: you needn’t know a lick of code to make use of code steps. Intrigued? Let’s dive in.

Bounce forward

What’s Code by Zapier?

Code by Zapier enables you to add customized code to your Zaps so you possibly can carry out particular duties that transcend the pre-built triggers and actions offered by Zapier’s present integrations. 

Code steps act identical to another set off or motion, with one essential distinction: you inform these steps what to do in Python or JavaScript. These additional directions inside your Zaps can turn out to be useful when that you must do one thing extra superior that Zapier may not natively help. You may, for instance, use code steps to implement complicated lookup tables, course of line objects, clear up uncooked knowledge like XML, or retrieve dynamic dates out of your knowledge. 

When used as a set off, Code by Zapier usually processes enter knowledge or checks for particular situations to determine if the workflow ought to begin. As an motion, it means that you can write code that may work together with knowledge coming from the set off or a earlier motion step. Actions utilizing code can course of data, rearrange knowledge, or retrieve knowledge from an API earlier than sending it on to later steps in your Zap. 

And if you do not know the way to write code—otherwise you simply get caught—you possibly can use AI instantly throughout the Zap editor to generate code snippets by merely describing what you’d love to do. 

In essence, code steps mean you can totally customise your workflows and take your corporation processes to the subsequent degree. 

Key options embody:

• Customized scripts: Write JavaScript or Python code to run customized logic or operations not supported by commonplace Zapier integrations.

• Knowledge manipulation: Remodel, format, or modify knowledge from earlier Zap steps to fulfill particular necessities.

• Variable help: Use variables to retailer and manipulate knowledge inside your scripts, making your code extra dynamic and adaptable.

• Constructed-in Python utilities: Retailer and retrieve knowledge between Zap runs with StoreClient, ship HTTP requests with the request utility, and use the print utility to debug your operate throughout execution. 

• Constructed-in JavaScript utilities: Retailer and retrieve knowledge between Zap runs with StoreClient, use callback capabilities to deal with duties that take time to finish, make HTTP requests with the fetch utility, and debug your operate with console.log. 

• AI code generator: Describe the way you’d prefer to customise your set off or motion (in plain English), and AI will write the JavaScript or Python code for you.  

• Testing and debugging: Run your Zap by way of the dashboard to verify the conduct you anticipate and examine your Zap historical past for data round your code steps’ enter knowledge, output particulars, and logs. 

What you are able to do with Code by Zapier

With Code by Zapier, the chances are infinite. Whereas most use instances will rely in your distinctive enterprise challenges, listed below are a number of standard examples.

Ship scheduled HTTP requests to an exterior API 

You wish to ship or retrieve knowledge from an app that does not have a local Zapier integration.

What this may seem like:

1. A Zap is triggered each hour utilizing Schedule by Zapier. 

2. A Code by Zapier step sends a customized HTTP request to an exterior API endpoint and parses the response.

3. The parsed API response is used so as to add or replace a row to a Google sheet.

Parsing and reworking Slack messages with JavaScript

You wish to extract and clear up particular knowledge from Slack messages earlier than sending them to a different app, with out counting on a number of Formatter steps.

What this may seem like:

1. A brand new message is posted to a Slack channel.

2. A Code by Zapier step parses the message textual content, removes consumer mentions, and extracts the related content material utilizing regex.

3. The cleaned message textual content is distributed to Airtable as a structured area in a brand new file.

Normalizing timestamps for desk storage

Your incoming desk data use ambiguous or inconsistent date codecs, and also you wish to make certain timestamps are saved constantly.

What this may seem like:

1. A file is added or up to date in Zapier Tables.

2. A Code by Zapier step explicitly parses the incoming timestamp and converts it to ISO 8601 in UTC.

3. The normalized timestamp is written again to Zapier Tables by updating the unique file.

The way to get began with Code by Zapier

Wish to check out a code step?

To make use of Code as a set off, observe these steps: 

1. Within the Zap editor, click on the set off step, then seek for and choose Code by Zapier. 

2. Click on the occasion dropdown menu and choose Run Javascript or Run Python, then click on Proceed. 
   

   

3. Within the Configure tab, use the Code area to enter your JavaScript or Python code.

   

4. If you would like AI to put in writing code for you, click on Generate with AI. Within the dialog field, enter a immediate that describes your required code. Click on Generate code, then click on Use code. 

   

5. As soon as you have completed including your code, click on Proceed to check your code step. In case your code is legitimate, the step will present it was profitable and show the information. 

6. Now it is time to add an motion. Seek for and choose your motion app. Join your account, arrange the motion step, and take a look at the motion.

7. As soon as you have completed including your motion step(s) to your Zap, bear in mind to show it on.

To make use of Code as an motion, observe these steps:

1. Within the Zap editor, click on the set off step, then seek for and choose your set off app and the set off occasion. Join your account, arrange the set off step, and take a look at the step.

2. As soon as you have completed organising your set off, click on the +icon so as to add a brand new step.

3. Seek for and choose Code by Zapier.

4. Click on the occasion dropdown menu and choose Run Javascript or Run Python. Then click on Proceed. 

5. Within the Enter Knowledge area, present a key title and map the information out of your set off step. Within the Code area, enter your JavaScript or Python code. 

   

6. If you would like to make use of the AI choice, click on Generate with AI. Within the dialog field, enter a immediate that describes your required code. Click on Generate code, then click on Use code.

7. Click on Proceed, then click on Check step. In case your code is legitimate, the step will present it was profitable and show the information despatched.

8. As soon as you have completed including your motion step(s) to your Zap, bear in mind to check and switch it on.

For extra data on organising code steps in your Zap, try our JavaScript or Python assist guides for step-by-step directions.

Use code steps to energy your corporation’s progress

With Code by Zapier, you possibly can customise your workflows in order that they automate complicated duties, combine seamlessly with any API or customized software, and finally, resolve issues distinctive to your corporation. 

By including that additional layer of code, you possibly can rework your knowledge in methods commonplace integrations cannot.

Able to attempt it out your self? Construct a Zap with code steps now and begin powering your corporation right this moment. 

This information was initially printed in Could 2022 by Tyler Robertson with earlier updates from Elena Alston. It was most not too long ago up to date in December 2025.