Zapier

Zapier is an automation tool that lets you easily create workflows that involve common web apps and services. Zapier uses a simple trigger and action for creating commands, akin to "if this happens, then do that.

How Zapier Works

You use Zapier's web interface to create commands called zaps. Each zap is composed of two main parts: a trigger and an action.

The trigger is the event that kicks off the zap — in programming lingo, you can think of it as the "if this happens…" part of the operation. Zapier works with more than 2,000 apps and services, so there are countless triggers you can base a zap on.

The action is the event that completes the zap. It's the "then do this" part of the command and the automation that simplifies your task or workflow. For example, a zap might be written to create an event on a Google Calendar based on every new Trello card that gets added to your board, or a zap might create a to-do list in an app like Todo list based on emails you star or flag in Gmail.