FDC3 Context vs. Intent: What’s the Difference?

io.Connect Desktop
,
1

This is one of the most common points of confusion for developers new to FDC3:

  • Context: Think of this as a shared state. When your app broadcasts a Context (like an instrument ticker), it’s sharing that information with every other app on the same channel. It’s a one-to-many communication model designed to keep everything in sync.
  • Intent: This is more like a direct command. When you raise an Intent (like ViewChart), you’re asking the FDC3 Desktop Agent to find one specific app that can handle that action and send it the relevant data. It’s a one-to-one communication model designed to trigger a specific workflow.
1 Like