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# Understand job hierarchy

> Learn about the hierarchical structure of root jobs, parent jobs, child jobs, and tasks in Job Viewer.

Job Viewer displays three levels of executable items in a hierarchical structure:

**Root Jobs**

* **Definition**: The top-level job that initiates an entire workflow process
* **Origin**: Started by manual execution, API calls, schedules, or events
* **Characteristics**: Has no parent job above it in the hierarchy
* **Can contain**: Child jobs and tasks
* **Example**: A network configuration workflow triggered by a schedule

**Parent Jobs**

* **Definition**: Any job that contains child jobs or tasks beneath it in the hierarchy
* **Scope**: Can be either a root job or a child job
* **Characteristics**: Controls the execution flow of its children
* **Key point**: All root jobs are parent jobs, but not all parent jobs are root jobs
* **Example**: A root job that contains child jobs, or a child job that has its own child jobs

**Child Jobs**

* **Definition**: A job that executes within another job (either a root job or another child job)
* **Origin**: Triggered by a parent job as part of a larger automation process
* **Characteristics**: Always has a parent job above it, may have child jobs and tasks below it
* **Dual nature**: Can be both a child (to its parent) and a parent (to its children)
* **Example**: A device backup sub-workflow that runs as part of a larger maintenance workflow

**Tasks**

* **Definition**: The smallest executable units that perform specific functions
* **Origin**: Created within jobs to handle individual operations
* **Characteristics**: Cannot contain other jobs or tasks
* **Types**: Manual, Operation, or Automatic
* **Example**: A single command execution or configuration change

## Hierarchy examples

### Simple hierarchy

```
Root Job: Network Maintenance
├── Task: Check device status
├── Task: Create backup
└── Task: Apply updates
```

### Complex hierarchy

```
Root Job: Site Deployment
├── Child Job: Infrastructure Setup
│   ├── Task: Configure switches
│   └── Task: Setup VLANs
├── Child Job: Security Configuration
│   ├── Task: Apply firewall rules
│   └── Child Job: Certificate Management
│       ├── Task: Generate certificates
│       └── Task: Install certificates
└── Task: Validation test
```

In the complex example, "Certificate Management" is both a child job (to "Security Configuration") and a parent job (to its own tasks).

> Learn about the hierarchical structure of root jobs, parent jobs, child jobs, and tasks in Job Viewer.