# Runtime Guide

Use this section when you need to understand how Flow Core behaves after the graph is bound to a scene object and the game enters Play Mode.

Runtime pages are for lifecycle, data flow, payloads, module execution, and integration decisions. They are useful after the visual beginner path and before writing deeper gameplay integrations.

## Start With

| If you want to...                                                                   | Read                                                                                                                                                         |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Understand the runtime object model                                                 | [Architecture](/flow-core-docs/documentation/runtime-guide/architecture.md)                                                                                  |
| Follow graph execution and data movement                                            | [Lifecycle and Dataflow](/flow-core-docs/documentation/runtime-guide/lifecycle-and-dataflow.md)                                                              |
| Choose between Blackboard, payload, TempPayload, context, and target resolver paths | [Value Sources and Target Resolution](/flow-core-docs/documentation/runtime-guide/value-sources-and-target-resolution.md)                                    |
| Pass temporary data through an execution                                            | [TempPayload](/flow-core-docs/documentation/runtime-guide/temp-payload.md)                                                                                   |
| Understand module-specific runtime behavior                                         | [Stack Runtime](/flow-core-docs/documentation/runtime-guide/stack-runtime.md) or [GOAP Runtime](/flow-core-docs/documentation/runtime-guide/goap-runtime.md) |

## Pages

* [Architecture](/flow-core-docs/documentation/runtime-guide/architecture.md): Explain the main runtime responsibilities and how process-owned graph execution is structured.
* [Lifecycle and Dataflow](/flow-core-docs/documentation/runtime-guide/lifecycle-and-dataflow.md): Track graph startup, execution, Blackboard access, payloads, and completion.
* [Value Sources and Target Resolution](/flow-core-docs/documentation/runtime-guide/value-sources-and-target-resolution.md): Choose where values live and how graphs resolve runtime targets.
* [TempPayload](/flow-core-docs/documentation/runtime-guide/temp-payload.md): Use temporary execution data without turning it into persistent Blackboard state.
* [Stack Runtime](/flow-core-docs/documentation/runtime-guide/stack-runtime.md): Understand Stack Root and Stack Layer lifecycle behavior.
* [GOAP Runtime](/flow-core-docs/documentation/runtime-guide/goap-runtime.md): Understand planning, fact watching, goal selection, and action execution.
* [Character and Interaction Runtime](/flow-core-docs/documentation/runtime-guide/character-interaction-runtime.md): Connect Flow Character and Flow Interaction behavior to runtime graph execution.


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