User flows and task flows

Customer journey maps capture the big picture of user experiences across time and touchpoints. User flows and task flows zoom in on specific interactions within your product. While journey maps might show "customer searches for help," user flows detail every screen, decision point, and possible path through your help system.^[1]

Task flows focus even tighter on single objectives without branches. They show the ideal path to complete one task, like "reset password" or "update payment method." User flows include all possible paths, decisions, and error states. Both are tactical tools for designing specific features.

These tools work best together. Start with customer journey maps to identify critical moments, then create user flows for complex interactions and task flows for straightforward actions. Journey maps reveal where users struggle, while flows show exactly how to fix those struggles through better interaction design.