Conversation Node

The Conversation node collects variables by gathering specific information from users during conversations. It pauses the flow until the user provides a response, then stores that response in a variable for later use in branching logic, API calls, or personalization.

Overview

The Conversation node:

• Asks questions to gather specific information from users
• Pauses the flow until the user provides a valid response
• Stores responses as variables (e.g., {user_email}, {party_size})
• Validates input to ensure data matches expected formats

Important: The conversation pauses at a Conversation node until the user provides a valid response. If the user doesn’t respond or gives an invalid answer, the agent will ask again or handle it according to your error handling logic.

How to Configure

Step 1: Add the Node

In Flow Designer, click the Plus icon and select Conversation

Step 2: Add Instructions (Optional)

Describe how the agent should behave when collecting variables. This is especially useful when collecting multiple variables in sequence.

Example:

• "First ask the user for their age, then ask for their gender."
• "Ask for party size first, then ask for the preferred date and time."

The instructions guide the agent’s behavior and help ensure variables are collected in the right order.

Step 3: Define What to Collect

Variable Name:

• Choose a clear, descriptive name (e.g., user_email, phone_number, preferred_date)
• Use lowercase with underscores (snake_case) for consistency
• This is how you’ll reference the variable later: {user_email}

Variable Type:

• String: Free-form text input (name, address, comments)
• Number: Numeric values only (age, quantity, phone number)
• List: User selects from predefined options (product category, department)
• Boolean: Yes/no, true/false responses (opt-in consent, confirm/cancel)

Prompt:

• Write what the agent should say to request this information
• Examples:
  • "What's your email address?"
  • "How many people will be joining us?"
  • "Which department do you need? Sales, Support, or Billing?"

Step 4: (Optional) Add Validation

Configure validation rules to ensure data is in the correct format:

• Email validation: Ensures input follows email format
• Phone validation: Ensures input is a valid phone number
• Range validation: For numbers (e.g., “Age must be between 18 and 100”)
• Required vs Optional: Choose whether the user must provide a value

Conversation Node vs Message Node

This is a common point of confusion. Here’s the difference:

Example - Conversation Node:

Example - Message Node:

Using Collected Variables

Once collected, variables can be referenced throughout your flow:

• In Message Nodes: Personalize messages (e.g., "Thanks, {user_name}! I've scheduled your appointment for {appointment_date}.")
• In Branch Nodes: Make decisions based on collected data (e.g., {budget} > 10000)
• In Custom Actions: Pass variables to external APIs
• In Multi-Agent System: Variables collected in the main flow are accessible to sub-agents

For more details on how variables work and how to view them, see the Variables documentation.

FAQ