Output Pin   An output pin is a type of object node, which gives the node the capability of storing (buffering) tokens. Tokens produced by actions may accumulate at output pins before being passed onto other downstream object nodes via object flows. Output pins have only incoming flows all of which must be object flows. They receive tokens produced by the actions.

Explanation

Actions carry out work and often produce outputs in the form of data or objects and these can be stored temporarily by output pins owned by the action. Output pins are typically positioned on the side of an action and pass on the results of the action's work to downstream object nodes via one or more object flows. They do not have incoming flows but receive their tokens directly from the action that owns them. In our daily lives we see examples of output pins. The out-tray on an office worker's desk is like an output pin. A worker will typically take the next item from the in-tray, carry out some work using the item from the in-tray and place the result of the work in the out-tray. The contents of the out-tray will typically be collected by another office worker and placed in the in-tray at another worker's desk.

Important Points

		Output pins are owned by actions.		Output pins receive data or objects from actions and are owned by one (and only one) action.
		Output pins can have one or more outgoing object flows but no incoming flows.		An output pin can have any number of outgoing flows all of which must be object flows but cannot have any incoming flows as all tokens are received directly from the action that owns the pin.

Related Entries

Input Pin  Paired Element,  Graphically Similar An input pin is related to an output pin in that they are paired elements and both elements are owned by an action. They have a similar appearance and can be distinguished by the fact that an output pin has outgoing flows with arrowheads pointing away from the action whereas an input pin has incoming flows with the arrowhead pointing towards the pin.

Action  Used Together An action is related to an output pin in that the action owns the output pin. The output pin offers object tokens to outgoing object flows making them available to downstream nodes.