Dead-letter queue (DLQ)
A safety net for failed workflow executions. When an automation fails after all retries, the payload is moved to a DLQ for manual review preventing data loss and allowing reprocessing once the issue is resolved.
Expert insight
Without a DLQ, a failed automation silently loses data. With one, nothing is ever truly lost.
In a real workflow
Webhooks that fail after three retries are stored in a "failed" table with the payload and error, so they can be fixed and replayed.
Common mistakes
- Dropping failed events entirely.
- Never reviewing the dead-letter queue, so it fills up silently.
Complexity level
Technical term used in production automation systems.
See it in action
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Go deeper
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