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