# State machine object

```json metadata
{
  "title": "State machine object",
  "description": "An object that represents a state machine.",
  "categories": ["docs","operate","rs"],
  "tableOfContents": {"sections":[]}

,
  "codeExamples": []
}
```
A state machine object tracks the status of database actions.

A state machine contains the following attributes:

| Name        | Type/Value | Description |
|-------------|------------|-------------|
| action_uid  | string     | A globally unique identifier of the action |
| object_name | string     | Name of the object being manipulated by the state machine |
| status      | pending    | Requested state machine has not started |
|             | active     | State machine is currently running |
|             | completed  | Operation complete |
|             | failed     | Operation or state machine failed |
| name        | string     | Name of the running (or failed) state machine |
| state       | string     | Current state within the state machine, when known |
| error       | string     | A descriptive error string for failed state machine, when known |