---
title: "Creating Slack functions"
summary: "Slack functions are essentially Slack-native actions, like creating a channel or sending a message. Use them alongside your custom functions in a workflow. Browse our inventory of Slack functions."
url: "https://docs.slack.dev/tools/deno-slack-sdk/guides/creating-slack-functions"
type: "guide"
---

Source: https://docs.slack.dev/tools/deno-slack-sdk/guides/creating-slack-functions

# Creating Slack functions

Workflow apps require a paid plan

Join the [Developer Program](https://api.slack.com/developer-program) and provision a sandbox with access to all Slack features for free.

Slack functions are essentially Slack-native actions, like creating a channel or sending a message. Use them alongside your [custom functions](https://docs.slack.dev/tools/deno-slack-sdk/guides/creating-custom-functions.md) in a [workflow](https://docs.slack.dev/tools/deno-slack-sdk/guides/creating-workflows.md). [Browse our inventory of Slack functions](https://docs.slack.dev/tools/deno-slack-sdk/reference/slack-functions.md).

Slack functions need to be imported from the standard library built into the [Deno Slack SDK](https://github.com/slackapi/deno-slack-sdk)—all Slack functions are children of the `Schema.slack.functions` object. Just like custom functions, Slack functions can be added to steps in a workflow using the `addStep` method.

Slack functions define their own inputs and outputs, as detailed for each Slack function in the catalog below.

## Slack functions catalog {#catalog}

The details for each Slack function can be found in our [reference documentation](https://docs.slack.dev/tools/deno-slack-sdk/reference/slack-functions.md).

## Slack function example {#example}

Here's an example of a workflow that creates a new Slack channel using the [`CreateChannel`](https://docs.slack.dev/tools/deno-slack-sdk/reference/slack-functions/create_channel.md) Slack function:

```
import { DefineWorkflow, Schema } from "deno-slack-sdk/mod.ts";// Define a workflow that can pass the parameters for the Slack functionconst myWorkflow = DefineWorkflow({  callback_id: "channel-creator",  title: "Channel Creator",  input_parameters: {    properties: { channel_name: { type: Schema.types.string } },    required: ["channel_name"],  },});const createChannelStep = myWorkflow.addStep(  Schema.slack.functions.CreateChannel,  {    channel_name: myWorkflow.inputs.channel_name,    is_private: false,  },);export default myWorkflow;
```

## Timeouts for functions {#timeouts-for-functions}

When building workflows using functions, there is a 60 second timeout for a deployed function and a 15 second timeout for a locally-run function.

For deployed functions using a `block_suggestion`, `block_actions`, `view_submission`, or `view_closed` payload, there is a 10 second timeout.

If a function has not finished running within its respective time limit, you will see an error in your log. Refer to [logging](https://docs.slack.dev/tools/deno-slack-sdk/guides/logging-function-and-app-behavior.md) for more details.

* * *

➡️ **To learn how to add a Slack function to a workflow**, head to the [workflows](https://docs.slack.dev/tools/deno-slack-sdk/guides/creating-workflows.md) section.

➡️ **To browse all Slack functions**, head to the [Slack Function reference catalog](https://docs.slack.dev/tools/deno-slack-sdk/reference/slack-functions.md)

✨ **To learn how to create your own _custom_ functions**, head to the [custom functions](https://docs.slack.dev/tools/deno-slack-sdk/guides/creating-custom-functions.md) section.