---
title: Choosing a prompt type
description: "Single prompt or conversation flow: how each shapes the agent's behaviour, what each shows in the workspace, and when to pick which."
---

After the <Term>modality</Term>, **Create Agent** asks for a prompt type: **Single Prompt Agent**
or **Conversation Flow**. A single prompt is one brief the agent follows for the
whole conversation. A flow is a graph of nodes the conversation moves through. The
type is fixed for the life of the agent.

:::note[Start with a single prompt]
Most agents are single-prompt agents. Pick a flow when the conversation has stages
that must happen in order, or branches that depend on what the person said.
:::

![The prompt type step of Create Agent.](/media/build/create-agent-prompt-type.webp)

## Single prompt

The prompt is three fields on **Settings**: **Agent Identity**, **Tasks** and
**Guardrails**. The model reads all three on every turn and decides what to do. It
handles open-ended conversations well and is quick to write, test and change. The
workspace shows **Prompt type: Prompt** in the General card.

Good fits: reception, support, information lines, lead qualification, anything where
the order of topics is up to the caller.

## Conversation flow

The prompt is split across nodes on a canvas under **Flow**. Each node carries its
own instructions, and edges with conditions decide where the conversation goes
next. The General card shows **Prompt type: Flow**, and the **Prompt** card is
replaced by the **Flow** section. Everything else, including **Conversation**,
**Advanced** and **Outcomes**, is the same as for a single prompt.

Good fits: verification before any action, scripted surveys, multi-step intake,
transfers that depend on an answer, and anything a compliance team wants to read
step by step.

## Side by side

| | Single prompt | Conversation flow |
|---|---|---|
| Chosen in the wizard as | **Single Prompt Agent** | **Conversation Flow** |
| Instructions live in | **Settings**, three prompt fields | **Flow**, one per node |
| Order of topics | Decided by the model each turn | Decided by nodes and edges |
| Tools | Added under **Tools**, or with **Manage tools** on the prompt | Global Tools for the whole flow, plus a Tools tab on each Prompt node |
| Generate with AI | Writes the three fields | Generates a flow |
| Available for | Voice and text agents | Voice and text agents |

## Moving a single-prompt agent to a flow

A single-prompt agent can be turned into a flow later. In its workspace header,
open **More actions** and choose **Migrate to Flow Agent**. Callab AI builds a flow
from the prompt, tools, outcomes and knowledge bases and saves it as a new agent,
named after the original with `(Flow)` added, then opens it (**Flow Agent
Created**). The original agent is left as it was, so its campaigns, phone numbers
and pinned versions keep running until you move them to the new one. A flow agent
has no **More actions** menu: the migration only goes one way.

## Related

- [Flow editor](/build/flow-agents/flow-editor)
- [Nodes](/build/flow-agents/nodes)
- [Edges and conditions](/build/flow-agents/edges-and-conditions)
- [Prompting guide](/build/prompting/prompting-guide)
- [Choosing a modality](/build/choosing-a-modality)