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Process Instance

A process instance is a single instance of a business process that occurs or is executed. If creating a cake is a process, for example, the recipe is the process model. Every time someone cooks a cake with this recipe, a process instance arises. A data structure that represents a single instance of a process executing. It has linked context information that the process may utilize and alter. In a business process management suite (BPMS), a process instance is very similar to, but not identical to, a case in a case management system. There may be several process instances connected with a single case.

A process instance is produced whenever a process is initiated, and it reflects the exact instance that was started. It holds all of the instance's runtime information. Multiple instances of the same process can be run at the same time.

Take a look at a process definition for processing a purchase order. When a new purchase order is received, a new process instance for that buy order is generated. Multiple instances of the procedure (one for each purchase order) can exist simultaneously. An id is a unique identifier for a process instance. When utilizing a Workflow Process where the processing logic is described as a flow chart, this class may be expanded to represent one specific type of process, such as Workflow Process Instance.

In different BPMS, the process instance can be termed differently, Like in GoodFlow a process instance is called Perform.