Getting Started with Automations

Automations allow you to create powerful routines, incorporating Devices and Connected Services that are on the SmartThings Platform. The different types of Automations you can create are outlined below.

Rules

Rules use the Rules API to automate control of Devices and Connected Services, allowing you to define one or more actions that will occur when certain conditions are met.

info

Automations Created in the SmartThings App
Automations you create in the SmartThings app are a superset of what you can create with the Rules API. Automations created in the app will not appear when sending a GET request to https://api.smartthings.com/v1/rules/.

Scenes

Scenes use the Scenes API to simultaneously set a group of Devices to a particular state. Scenes differ from Rules in that Scenes do not have triggers; a Scene is activated by tapping the Scene from within a SmartThings Client.

Complex Automations

If you want to build complex Automations that run on your own platform, we recommend building a Connected Service.