---
title: "Parallel and sequential approvals"
slug: "parallel-and-sequential-approvals"
abstract: "Overview of parallel and sequential approvals in state flows."
---
# Parallel and sequential approvals

> [!note]
> To configure Content Hub, you must either be a superuser or have the necessary permissions granted to you through [user group policies](https://doc.sitecore.com/ch/en/users/content-hub/user-group-policies.html "User group policies").

You can [configure parallel and sequential approvals](https://doc.sitecore.com/ch/en/users/content-hub/configure-parallel-and-sequential-approvals.html "Configure parallel and sequential approvals") to define structured review processes within a state flow. Instead of a single reviewer approving a content item, you can require multiple groups of reviewers to complete their reviews before a state transition can proceed.

- In a sequential approval, stages must be reviewed in sequence. The next review stage can't start until the current one finishes.
- In a parallel approval, all stages can be reviewed at the same time.

## Review stages

> [!note]
> Superusers and users with the *OverrideStateFlowGate* permission on target entity definition can respond for a reviewer, directly approve or reject a stage, and restart the review cycle.

A review stage represents a review step within the approval process for a parallel or sequential approval. You can assign reviewers and rules to each review stage, and each approval can have up to 10 review stages.

![Parallel approval with two review stages.](https://doc.sitecore.com/api/markdown-image/ch/en/users/content-hub/images/state-flow-transition-review-details.png)

### Reviewers

A reviewer approves or rejects a review stage. Reviewers can be specific users, user groups, or a combination of both.

### Rules

> [!note]
> The **Rules** tab is only visible after adding at least one reviewer to a stage.

Rejection rules define how a rejection is handled:

- **Restart from the first review stage** - if a reviewer rejects the stage, a new review cycle begins from the first stage.
- **Restart from this review stage** - if a reviewer rejects the stage, a new review cycle begins from this review stage.
- **Move to a specific state** - if a reviewer rejects the stage, the approval item is moved to the selected state.

Decision rules determine the conditions required to approve or reject a stage:

- **Single reviewer** - a single reviewer can approve or reject the stage.
- **All reviewers** - all assigned reviewers are required to approve or reject the stage.
- **Unanimous approval, single rejection:** - all reviewers must approve the stage, but a single rejection immediately rejects it.


![Rules tab in an approval stage.](https://doc.sitecore.com/api/markdown-image/ch/en/users/content-hub/images/state-flow-transition-rules-tab.png)

### Review activity

The **Review activity** tab shows events related to review activity such as when a stage is approved.

![The Review activity tab showing events related to review activity.](https://doc.sitecore.com/api/markdown-image/ch/en/users/content-hub/images/state-flow-transition-review-activity-tab.png)

### Configuration activity

The **Configuration activity** tab shows any configuration changes made to the approval.

![The Configuration activity tab showing changes to approval configuration.](https://doc.sitecore.com/api/markdown-image/ch/en/users/content-hub/images/state-flow-transition-configuration-activity-tab.png)

## User permissions for parallel and sequential approvals

Users need specific [permissions](https://doc.sitecore.com/ch/en/users/content-hub/permissions.html) to view, configure, or override parallel and sequential approvals.

- To view approvals and participate as a reviewer, users need the *Read* permission on *SC.Automation.Gate*. This permission is added to the *M.Builtin.SM.Everyone* user group out of the box.
- To create and configure approvals, users need the *Create*, *Update*, and *Delete* permissions on *SC.Automation.Gate* and the *ManageStateFlowGate* permission on the target entity definition.

    The *Create*, *Update*, and *Delete* permissions are added to the *M.Builtin.SM.Administrators* user group out of the box.

- To directly approve or reject a stage, respond on behalf of a reviewer, or restart the review cycle, users need the *OverrideStateFlowGate* permission on the target entity definition.