---
title: World SDK
description: Low-level API for inspecting and managing workflow runs, steps, events, hooks, streams, and queues.
type: overview
summary: Access workflow infrastructure via await getWorld() for building observability dashboards, admin tools, and custom integrations.
prerequisites:
  - /docs/api-reference/workflow-api/get-world
keywords:
  - getWorld
  - World SDK
  - workflow runtime
  - observability dashboard
  - admin panel
  - workflow management
---

The World SDK provides direct access to workflow infrastructure — runs, steps, events, hooks, streams, and queues. Use it to build observability dashboards, admin panels, debugging tools, and custom workflow management logic.

```typescript lineNumbers
import { getWorld } from "workflow/runtime";

const world = await getWorld(); // [!code highlight]
```

## Interfaces

<Cards>
    <Card href="/docs/api-reference/workflow-api/world/storage" title="Storage">
        Query runs, steps, hooks, and the underlying event log.
    </Card>
    <Card href="/docs/api-reference/workflow-api/world/streams" title="Streams">
        Read, write, and manage real-time data streams for workflow runs.
    </Card>
    <Card href="/docs/api-reference/workflow-api/world/queue" title="Queue">
        Low-level queue dispatch (internal SDK infrastructure).
    </Card>
    <Card href="/docs/api-reference/workflow-api/world/observability" title="Observability Utilities">
        Hydrate step I/O, parse display names, and decrypt workflow data.
    </Card>
</Cards>

<Callout type="info">
  The World SDK is the low-level foundation that higher-level functions like [`getRun()`](/docs/api-reference/workflow-api/get-run) and [`start()`](/docs/api-reference/workflow-api/start) are built on. Use it when you need capabilities beyond what those functions provide.
</Callout>

## Data Hydration

Step input/output data is serialized using the [devalue](https://github.com/Rich-Harris/devalue) format. To display this data in your UI, use the hydration utilities from `workflow/observability`:

```typescript lineNumbers
import { hydrateResourceIO, observabilityRevivers } from "workflow/observability"; // [!code highlight]

const step = await world.steps.get(runId, stepId);
const hydrated = hydrateResourceIO(step, observabilityRevivers); // [!code highlight]
console.log(hydrated.input, hydrated.output);
```

See [Observability Utilities](/docs/api-reference/workflow-api/world/observability) for the full API.
