What does it mean when a sub-process is set to run synchronously?

When a sub-process is set to run synchronously, it means that the parent process will wait for the sub-process to complete before moving on to the next step. This is a crucial aspect of process design, as it ensures that any data or results generated by the sub-process are available for use in the subsequent steps of the parent process. Using synchronous sub-processes can be particularly important when the parent process depends on the output or result of the sub-process to make decisions or take further action.

In contrast, options mentioning background execution or the parent process continuing without waiting refer to asynchronous behavior, where the parent process does not pause for the sub-process to finish. This distinction is essential for understanding how different process execution environments can impact the flow and data handling of applications designed in Appian.