diff --git a/zenoh-flow-descriptors/src/dataflow.rs b/zenoh-flow-descriptors/src/dataflow.rs
index 1fb24c4e..be52aa13 100644
--- a/zenoh-flow-descriptors/src/dataflow.rs
+++ b/zenoh-flow-descriptors/src/dataflow.rs
@@ -41,15 +41,16 @@ use zenoh_flow_commons::{Configuration, NodeId, RuntimeId};
 ///
 /// In Zenoh-Flow, we divide a descriptor into sections, each responsible for a single aspect of the applications.
 ///
-/// The **required** sections are:
+/// The *main* sections are:
 /// - `name`     : A short human-readable summary of what your data flow will do.
 /// - `sources`  : A non-empty list of Source(s) to feed data into your data flow.
-/// - `operators`: A list of Operator(s) to perform transformation on the data.
+/// - `operators`: A list of Operator(s) to perform transformation on the data. A data flow can have no Operator, in
+///                which case this section can be omitted.
 /// - `sinks`    : A non-empty list of Sink(s) to output the result of the transformation(s) performed in your data
 ///                flow.
 /// - `links`    : How the different nodes of your data flow are connected.
 ///
-/// Special, **optional**, sections can also be added to tweak a data flow:
+/// Special, *optional*, sections can also be added to tweak a data flow:
 /// - `uuid`: The unique identifier to give to an instance of this data flow.
 ///   If not provided, Zenoh-Flow will generate a random one when instantiating the flow.
 ///
@@ -71,13 +72,13 @@ use zenoh_flow_commons::{Configuration, NodeId, RuntimeId};
 ///
 /// The three types of nodes -- Sources, Sinks and Operators -- share a similar structure.
 ///
-/// The **required** sections are:
+/// The *required* sections are:
 /// - `id`     : A unique name -- within your data flow.
 /// - `library`: A [Url](url::Url) pointing at the implementation of the node's logic.
 /// - `inputs` : The entry points of the node (i.e. to receive data). ⚠️ Only for **Sinks** and **Operators**.
 /// - `outputs`: The exit points of the node (i.e. to forward data). ⚠️ Only for **Sources** and **Operators**.
 ///
-/// The **optional** sections are:
+/// The *optional* sections are:
 /// - `description`  : A human-readable description of what the node does.
 /// - `configuration`: To pass down values to the node when Zenoh-Flow creates it. Values in a node's section will
 ///   *overwrite* that of the data flow.
@@ -248,6 +249,7 @@ pub struct DataFlowDescriptor {
     #[serde(default)]
     pub(crate) configuration: Configuration,
     /// *(optional)* A list of Operator(s), the nodes that manipulate and / or produce data.
+    #[serde(default)]
     pub(crate) operators: Vec<OperatorDescriptor>,
     /// A non-empty list of Source(s), the nodes that provide data to the data flow.
     pub(crate) sources: Vec<SourceDescriptor>,
@@ -333,6 +335,55 @@ mod tests {
      }
    ]
  }
+ "#;
+        let data_flow_json = serde_json::from_str::<DataFlowDescriptor>(flow_json_str)
+            .expect("Failed to deserialize flow from JSON");
+        assert!(serde_json::to_string(&data_flow_json).is_ok());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_serialization_deserialization_no_operators() {
+        let flow_json_str = r#"
+{
+   "name": "DataFlow",
+
+   "configuration": {
+     "foo": "bar"
+   },
+
+   "sources": [
+     {
+       "id": "Source",
+       "descriptor": "file:///home/zenoh-flow/nodes/source.yaml",
+       "configuration": {
+         "answer": 0
+       }
+     }
+   ],
+
+   "sinks": [
+     {
+       "id": "Sink",
+       "descriptor": "file:///home/zenoh-flow/nodes/sink.yaml",
+       "configuration": {
+         "answer": 2
+       }
+     }
+   ],
+
+   "links": [
+     {
+       "from": {
+         "node": "Source",
+         "output": "o-source"
+       },
+       "to": {
+         "node": "Sink",
+         "input": "i-sink"
+       }
+     }
+   ]
+ }
  "#;
         let data_flow_json = serde_json::from_str::<DataFlowDescriptor>(flow_json_str)
             .expect("Failed to deserialize flow from JSON");
diff --git a/zenoh-flow-descriptors/src/flattened/dataflow.rs b/zenoh-flow-descriptors/src/flattened/dataflow.rs
index bebb841c..a9feecfa 100644
--- a/zenoh-flow-descriptors/src/flattened/dataflow.rs
+++ b/zenoh-flow-descriptors/src/flattened/dataflow.rs
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ pub struct FlattenedDataFlowDescriptor {
     /// A non-empty list of Sources.
     pub sources: Vec<FlattenedSourceDescriptor>,
     /// A list of Operators.
+    #[serde(default)]
     pub operators: Vec<FlattenedOperatorDescriptor>,
     /// A non-empty list of Sinks.
     pub sinks: Vec<FlattenedSinkDescriptor>,
diff --git a/zenoh-flow-descriptors/src/flattened/tests.rs b/zenoh-flow-descriptors/src/flattened/tests.rs
index b213a59a..8da442d6 100644
--- a/zenoh-flow-descriptors/src/flattened/tests.rs
+++ b/zenoh-flow-descriptors/src/flattened/tests.rs
@@ -425,3 +425,50 @@ links:
     assert!(flat_flow_json.uuid.is_none());
     assert!(flat_flow_yaml.mapping.is_empty());
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn test_serialize_deserialize_no_operators() {
+    let flow_yaml = r#"
+name: test-flow
+
+sources:
+  - id: source-0
+    description: source-0
+    library: "file:///home/zenoh-flow/libsource.so"
+    outputs:
+      - out-1
+    configuration:
+      id: source-0
+
+sinks:
+  - id: sink-2
+    description: sink-2
+    library: "file:///home/zenoh-flow/libsink.so"
+    inputs:
+      - in-1
+    configuration:
+      id: sink-2
+
+links:
+  - from:
+      node: source-0
+      output: out-1
+    to:
+      node: sink-2
+      input: in-1
+"#;
+
+    let flat_flow_yaml = serde_yaml::from_str::<FlattenedDataFlowDescriptor>(flow_yaml)
+        .expect("Failed to deserialize flow from YAML");
+
+    let json_string_flow =
+        serde_json::to_string(&flat_flow_yaml).expect("Failed to serialize flow as JSON");
+
+    let flat_flow_json =
+        serde_json::from_str::<FlattenedDataFlowDescriptor>(json_string_flow.as_str())
+            .expect("Failed to deserialize flow from JSON");
+
+    assert_eq!(flat_flow_yaml, flat_flow_json);
+    assert!(flat_flow_json.uuid.is_none());
+    assert!(flat_flow_yaml.mapping.is_empty());
+}