Variable

A variable is a symbolic representation used to denote a quantity or expression. The quantity of a variable is usually called the value of a variable. The value normally changes during the execution of an IVR application. In IVR Studio, a variable is presented as ${name}.

Variables are usually used to pass information from one element to another. For example, a variable can be used to hold a user input, such as a password, from a Digits element; then it is used later in another element that checks the correctness of the password. Without variable, the capabilities of IVR applications are severely limited.

Variable Type

There are three variable types in IVR Studio:

• user variable
• action return variable
• system variable

A user variable is any variable that is created by the IVR application designer; an action return variable is the returned name value pairs of an action; a system variable is a system defined variable, such as caller ID.

Variable Value

A variable can represent any information. The information is referred as the value of a variable. For example, variable ${email_address} can contain 'info@abc.com' as its value; system variable ${__VG__LAST_RESULT__} contains the last caller input, such as entered password information.

Variable Usage

A variable can be used anywhere in an IVR application.

Variables can be used as prompt items. For example, if a variable is used to hold caller's credit card number, it can be used as a TTS prompt item that is read back the caller for confirmation.

Variables can also be used as parameters of actions. For example, a variable containing callers account number can be used in an HTTP action to fetch caller account information.