Operations

Temporal Cloud rate limits operations per second (OPS) per namespace. An operation is anything 1. a user does directly, or 2. Temporal does on behalf of the user in the background that results in load on Temporal Server. The exception is visibility queries: they do hit the Server (the query is passed from the server to the visibility store), but primarily the load is on the visibility system. Visibility rate limits are separate from OPS rate limits.

Below is the list of operations, including:

• operation name
• description
• priority (foreground is higher priority, background is lower priority)
• effect of that operation being throttled

Operation ↕	Description ↕	Priority ↕	Effect of Throttling ↕
ActivityRetryTimer	Internal timer that schedules the retry of a failed Activity execution.	Foreground	Activity retry delayed.
ActivityTimeout	Marks an Activity as timed‑out when its deadline passes.	Foreground	Activity task stays in-flight longer and timeout is delayed, so retry is also delayed (if there is a retry).
CompleteNexusOperation	Finalises a Nexus operation after worker response.	Background	External call clean‑up/commit delayed.
CreateSchedule	Creates a Temporal Schedule (cron‑like trigger).	Background	Client/SDK receives ResourceExhaustedError, leading to backoff and retry.
CreateWorkflowRule	Adds a worker build‑ID versioning rule for a task queue.	Background	Rule enforcement is delayed.
DeleteSchedule	Deletes an existing Schedule.	Background	Schedule may keep firing briefly.
DeleteWorkerDeployment	Deletes a worker deployment record.	Background	Stale deployment metadata persists longer.
DeleteWorkerDeploymentVersion	Deletes one build‑ID version entry under a deployment.	Background	Version appears valid until task processed.
DeleteWorkflowExecution	Hard‑deletes workflow history and state.	Background	Storage is freed later; data visible longer.
DeleteWorkflowRule	Deletes a worker build‑ID rule.	Background	Rule continues to exist until task handled.
DeprecateNamespace	Marks a namespace as deprecated in cluster metadata.	Background	Clients still see it as active.
DescribeBatchOperation	Returns metadata for a batch operation.	Background	Admin/UI read waits longer.
DescribeDeployment	Shows worker deployment details.	Background	Info retrieval is delayed.
DescribeNamespace	Returns namespace configuration.	Background	Admin read waits.
DescribeSchedule	Reads a Schedule’s current state.	Background	Call responds slower.
DescribeTaskQueue	Returns stats and configuration of a task queue.	Background	Monitoring dashboards lag.
DescribeWorkerDeployment	Shows details of a specific worker deployment.	Background	Same delay in status.
DescribeWorkerDeploymentVersion	Shows a particular build‑ID version record.	Background	Detail retrieval delayed.
DescribeWorkflowExecution	Returns high‑level info for a workflow execution.	Background	Diagnostics/CLI wait longer.
DescribeWorkflowRule	Reads a worker versioning rule.	Background	Admin tools wait.
DispatchByEndpoint	Routes a Nexus task to workers by endpoint name.	Background	Task routing latencies increase.
DispatchByNamespaceAndTaskQueue	Routes a Nexus task by namespace and task queue.	Background	Same: Nexus task starts later.
ExecuteMultiOperation	Runs a compound operation.	Background	Operation is delayed
GetClusterInfo	Returns information about cluster capabilities and versions.	Background	CLI/API calls take longer.
GetCurrentDeployment	Fetches the cluster‑wide current worker deployment.	Background	Rollout tooling sees stale info.
GetSearchAttributes	Lists custom search attribute definitions.	Background	SDK/CLI wait.
GetSystemInfo	Returns system build & feature info.	Background	Diagnostic call delayed.
GetWorkerBuildIdCompatibility	Returns build‑ID compatibility matrix for a task queue.	Background	Rollout decisions wait.
GetWorkerVersioningRules	Lists worker versioning rules.	Background	Admin listing delayed.
GetWorkflowExecutionHistory	Streams workflow history in forward order.	Background	History load in UI/CLI is slow.
GetWorkflowExecutionHistoryReverse	Streams history in reverse order.	Background	Same slower history read.
ListNamespaces	Lists all namespaces in the cluster.	Background	UI/CLI list paginates slower.
ListScheduleMatchingTimes	Computes future fire‑times for a Schedule.	Background	Preview takes longer.
ListTaskQueuePartitions	Lists partitions backing a task queue.	Background	Load‑balancing insight lag.
ListWorkerDeployments	Lists all worker deployments.	Background	Deployment inventory delayed.
ListWorkflowRules	Lists all build‑ID versioning rules.	Background	Admin list wait.
PatchSchedule	Modifies an existing Schedule (e.g., add interval).	Background	Change becomes effective later.
PauseActivity	Server‑side API to pause a long‑running Activity.	Background	Activity continues running until pause task processed.
PollActivityTaskQueue	Worker long‑poll for Activity tasks.	Background	Activity poller receives ResourceExhaustedError, leading to automatic backoff and retry, which slows down activity task processing.
PollNexusTaskQueue	Worker long‑poll for Nexus tasks.	Background	Nexus task poller receives ResourceExhaustedError, leading to automatic backoff and retry, which slows down Nexus task processing.
PollWorkflowExecutionUpdate	Client poll for workflow‑update completion.	Background	Client waits extra for result.
PollWorkflowTaskQueue	Worker long‑poll for Workflow Tasks.	Background	Workflow poller receives ResourceExhaustedError, leading to automatic backoff and retry, which slows down workflow progress.
QueryWorkflow	Read‑only query on workflow state.	Background	Caller receives result later.
RecordActivityTaskHeartbeat	Worker heartbeat for an Activity (by task token).	Background	Heartbeats delayed, risking false timeout.
RecordActivityTaskHeartbeatById	Same heartbeat call using Activity/Run IDs.	Background	Same impact.
RequestCancelWorkflowExecution	Client request to cancel a workflow.	Background	Cancellation propagates later.
ResetActivity	Force‑restarts an Activity from scratch.	Background	Activity keeps running before reset takes effect.
ResetStickyTaskQueue	Clears workflow’s sticky queue affinity.	Background	Tasks stay bound to prior worker longer.
ResetWorkflowExecution	Server‑side rewind to past event and continue as new.	Background	Workflow continues in old state.
RespondActivityTaskCanceled	Worker confirms Activity canceled.	Background	Workflow waits for ack.
RespondActivityTaskCanceledById	Same by ID.	Background	Same wait.
RespondActivityTaskCompleted	Worker returns Activity result.	Background	Workflow next step delayed.
RespondActivityTaskCompletedById	Same by ID.	Background	Same delay.
RespondActivityTaskFailed	Worker reports Activity failure.	Background	Retry/compensation delayed.
RespondActivityTaskFailedById	Same by ID.	Background	Same delay.
RespondNexusTaskCompleted	Worker returns Nexus task success.	Background	External call completion delayed.
RespondNexusTaskFailed	Worker returns Nexus task failure.	Background	Error handling delayed.
RespondQueryTaskCompleted	Worker returns query result.	Background	Client waits longer.
RespondWorkflowTaskCompleted	Worker returns new commands after WFT.	Background	Workflow commands applied later.
RespondWorkflowTaskFailed	Worker reports WFT failure.	Background	Retry/new task creation delayed.
SetCurrentDeployment	Sets which worker deployment is current for a queue.	Background	Version switch postponed.
SetCurrentDeploymentVersion	Sets current build‑ID version number.	Background	Rollout holds.
SetWorkerDeploymentCurrentVersion	Sets version for a specific deployment.	Background	Deployment stays on old version.
SetWorkerDeploymentRampingVersion	Sets percentage ramp for new version.	Background	Canary rollout paused.
ShutdownWorker	Gracefully shuts down a running worker via server call.	Background	Worker keeps running a bit longer.
SignalWithStartWorkflowExecution	Signals an existing run or starts a new one with a signal.	Background	Signal/start both delayed.
SignalWorkflowExecution	Sends an asynchronous signal to a workflow.	Background	Signal arrives late.
StartBatchOperation	Starts a batch admin operation (e.g., bulk reset).	Background	Batch begins later.
StartWorkflowExecution	Creates a new workflow run.	Background	Start latency increases.
StateMachineOutbound	Emits outbound commands generated by the new state‑machine core.	Foreground	Commands queue up, deferring their side‑effects.
StateMachineTimer	Fires timers managed by the state‑machine core.	Foreground	Timed events (e.g., sleeps) occur later.
StopBatchOperation	Stops/cancels a batch operation.	Background	Batch keeps working until task processed.
TerminateWorkflowExecution	Force‑terminates a workflow run.	Background	Workflow continues running longer.
TransferActivityTask	Dispatches an Activity task to a worker on its task queue.	Foreground	Activity task schedule is delayed.
TransferCancelExecution	Sends a cancel request to the target workflow.	Foreground	Target workflow receives the cancel later.
TransferCloseExecution	Close a running workflow execution	Foreground	Workflow remains open.
TransferResetWorkflow	Initiates a reset of a workflow’s state/history.	Foreground	Reset is postponed; old state continues.
TransferSignalExecution	Delivers a signal event to another workflow.	Foreground	Signal arrives late, delaying downstream logic.
TransferStartChildExecution	Starts a configured child workflow run.	Foreground	Child workflow starts later than expected.
TransferWorkflowTask	Schedules a Workflow Task for workers.	Foreground	Workflow task schedule is delayed.
TriggerWorkflowRule	Manually triggers a worker build‑ID rule.	Background	Trigger effect deferred.
UnpauseActivity	Resumes a previously paused Activity.	Background	Activity remains paused longer.
UpdateActivityOptions	Updates retry/timeout options of a running Activity.	Background	New options take effect later.
UpdateSchedule	Updates fields of an existing Schedule.	Background	Updated schedule behavior delayed.
UpdateWorkerDeploymentVersionMetadata	Updates metadata on a deployment version.	Background	Metadata remains outdated.
UpdateWorkflowExecution	Server‑side update (workflow update API).	Background	Update is accepted later.
UpdateWorkflowExecutionOptions	Changes execution options (memo, search attributes).	Background	Option changes visible later.
UserTimer	Fires a user‑defined timer created inside a workflow.	Foreground	User timer (including workflow sleep) fire event delayed.
VisibilityCloseExecution	Updates a closed workflow in Visibility store.	Foreground	Closed workflow remains open in list workflow visibility API results until task is processed.
VisibilityStartExecution	Creates a record for the workflow in Visibility store.	Foreground	New run is absent from lists in UI and CLI output until task processed.
VisibilityUpsertExecution	Updates search attributes for a workflow run.	Foreground	Search attribute update is delayed.
WorkflowBackoffTimer	Timer that delays retry or continued‑as‑new start per backoff policy.	Foreground	Workflow start delayed beyond intended backoff time.
WorkflowExecutionTimeout	Enforces the max total execution duration of a workflow.	Foreground	Timeout of workflow execution chain is delayed.
WorkflowRunTimeout	Enforces timeout of an individual workflow run.	Foreground	Timeout on workflow run is delayed.
WorkflowTaskTimeout	Times out a Workflow Task that a worker hasn’t completed in time.	Foreground	Timeout workflow task remains outstanding; retried workflow task is delayed.