Introduction to SharePoint On-Prem
Architecture & Setup
Site Management
Lists & Libraries
Pages & Content
Permissions & Security
Search & Navigation
Automation & Workflows
Integration & Extensibility
Development & Customization
Administration & Governance
Migration & Upgrades
Compliance & Records Management
Event Receivers vs. Workflows
When an event happens in SharePoint, you have two main options for automating a response: a Workflow or an Event Receiver. While both can automate actions, they are fundamentally different tools designed for different types of tasks.
Event Receivers
An Event Receiver is a piece of code that reacts instantly to a specific action. The “event” is something that happens in SharePoint, such as an item being added to a list, a document being deleted, or a property being changed. An Event Receiver runs on the server and is perfect for simple, immediate actions that don’t require any user interaction, such as automatically setting a field’s value when a new item is created.
Workflows
A Workflow is a sequence of tasks that automates a longer business process. Unlike an Event Receiver, a workflow can have a start, middle, and end. It can wait for a period of time, send emails, or require a person to approve a task. Workflows are designed for multi-step processes that may take hours, days, or even weeks to complete.
When to Use Which
The choice between a Workflow and an Event Receiver depends on the task. Use an Event Receiver for simple, quick, and instant actions that don’t need user interaction. For example, you could use an Event Receiver to automatically calculate a total when an item’s price is entered. Use a Workflow for a longer, more complex process that involves multiple steps, decisions, and user interaction, such as a full document approval process.
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