# What's the advantage of virtual devices vs flows? **URL:** \ **Category:** Questions & Help\ **Tags:** virtual-device, logic\ **Created:** [January 16, 2023, 12:56pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/whats-the-advantage-of-virtual-devices-vs-flows/75157 "2023-01-16T12:56:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OlleWestin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/ollewestin/32/46565_2.png) [@OlleWestin](https://community.homey.app/u/OlleWestin)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 12:56pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/whats-the-advantage-of-virtual-devices-vs-flows/75157/1 "2023-01-16T12:56:55Z")
Hello all! Out of interest. What is the advantage of using virtual devices rather than just flows and boolean logic values? I have, for example, a logic value that I update depending on if I have my phone on charging or not (via Shortcut). Today I’m just updating a boolean value (IsCharging = Yes/No) but maybe I’m not using best practice here? Are there advantages of virtual devices that I have missed? A clear _disadvantage_ is obviously that I have “devices” that aren’t really being used and it messes up the UI when I manually control my home. ---
**Author:** ![Arie\_J\_Godschalk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/arie_j_godschalk/32/63027_2.png) [@Arie\_J\_Godschalk](https://community.homey.app/u/Arie_J_Godschalk)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 4:17pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/whats-the-advantage-of-virtual-devices-vs-flows/75157/2 "2023-01-16T16:17:28Z")
Which Virtual Devices do you mean? The builldin expirement? The Virtual Devices App? Or the Advanced Virtual Devices from the Device Capabilities app? ---
**Author:** ![FKey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/fkey/32/14793_2.png) [@FKey](https://community.homey.app/u/FKey)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 5:31pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/whats-the-advantage-of-virtual-devices-vs-flows/75157/3 "2023-01-16T17:31:09Z")
A virtual device shows in which flow it is used. For me that is a big pro. (I creaapted a seperate zone ZZ to store the virtual devices that I do not use in the control ---
**Author:** ![OlleWestin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/ollewestin/32/46565_2.png) [@OlleWestin](https://community.homey.app/u/OlleWestin)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 8:37pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/whats-the-advantage-of-virtual-devices-vs-flows/75157/4 "2023-01-16T20:37:15Z")
Well, was thinking of the built in experiment. Didn’t even know about the apps? ---
**Author:** ![OlleWestin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/ollewestin/32/46565_2.png) [@OlleWestin](https://community.homey.app/u/OlleWestin)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 8:37pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/whats-the-advantage-of-virtual-devices-vs-flows/75157/5 "2023-01-16T20:37:51Z")
Hmm, care to elaborate? Not sure I fully get it ---
**Author:** ![FKey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/fkey/32/14793_2.png) [@FKey](https://community.homey.app/u/FKey)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 8:45pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/whats-the-advantage-of-virtual-devices-vs-flows/75157/6 "2023-01-16T20:45:31Z")
When you hold a vitual device button you have the option to view all flows that the button is used in ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/e/e/ee90d99b51ec988a558bbe4c570c1ab7c8a85098.png) If I would use a variable that is set, I would not be able to trace in which flows it is used. I find it very usefull for troubleshooting to I can easily trace where settigngs are used… ---
**Author:** ![Arie\_J\_Godschalk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/arie_j_godschalk/32/63027_2.png) [@Arie\_J\_Godschalk](https://community.homey.app/u/Arie_J_Godschalk)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 9:02pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/whats-the-advantage-of-virtual-devices-vs-flows/75157/7 "2023-01-16T21:02:38Z")
Best for this would be the AVD from device capabilities. Create an avd for each group, and you can add as many fields/variables that you want, of any type, give them custom names, icons, etc. ---
**Author:** ![OlleWestin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/ollewestin/32/46565_2.png) [@OlleWestin](https://community.homey.app/u/OlleWestin)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 9:12pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/whats-the-advantage-of-virtual-devices-vs-flows/75157/8 "2023-01-16T21:12:45Z")
AVD seems very cool! Will check it out!