# Connections

A connection is an **authorized and validated connection to an external data source** with standard functions (selection, filtering, etc.) with which data is imported from the source to the platform and exported to the source.

When building up data flows, relevant connections must be created in advance in order to be able to use / select them.

<figure><img src="/files/AnHUhpKIueAlM3JdXdEi" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>


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