# Triggers — Starting an Automation From a Platform Event

> Every automation starts with a trigger. Here's every trigger type ThatApp supports and how to use them.
> Help → Automations → Triggers

URL: https://thatapp.io/help/automations/automations-triggers
Category: Automations (iPaaS)

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A trigger is the event that starts an automation. ThatApp supports four trigger categories.

**Record triggers**

Fires when something happens to a record in a connected platform.
- Record created
- Record updated (any field)
- Record updated (specific field changes)
- Record deleted
- Record moved to a different status, stage, or category
- Record assigned to a different user
- Comment added to a record
- File attached to a record

Tell AVA which platform, which app or workspace, and which record event.

**Time triggers**

Fires on a schedule, not in response to a specific event.
- Every day at a specific time
- Every week on a specific day and time
- Every month on a specific date and time
- Every N hours or minutes
- On a one-time specific date and time (for scheduled tasks)

Tell AVA the schedule you want.

**Webhook triggers**

Fires when ThatApp receives a POST request to a unique webhook URL.
- Use when a system you are connecting does not have a native ThatApp integration
- Tell AVA: "Create a webhook trigger." AVA will generate the URL and tell you what JSON format to send.

**Form triggers**

Fires when a form connected to ThatApp is submitted.
- ThatApp can connect to form tools in the 181-platform library
- Tell AVA: "Trigger this flow when a form is submitted."

**Combining triggers**

An automation can have only one trigger. If you need multiple triggers to start the same set of actions, build separate automations — one per trigger, same actions.

**Related:** How to Build Your First Automation Flow · How Automations Work