How to Set Slots

This guide explains how to programmatically assign or clear slot values in your flows. With the Set Slots step, you can streamline your conversation logic by managing slot (stored user data) values independently from direct user input.

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What is a Slot?

Think of slots as your assistant’s memory. They store important pieces of information from the conversation, like a user’s name, date, or location, and can be referenced throughout the flow.

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Overview

With the Set Slots step, you can:

1. Assign a value: Automatically update a slot value (e.g. set the ‘age_category’ slot to ‘Minor’ based on the user’s birth year).
2. Clear a value: Reset a slot value (e.g. clear the ‘amount’ slot if the user exceeds the allowed transaction limit to prompt re-entry)
3. Persist a value: Persist a slot value (e.g. persist the ‘permission_granted’ slot after the flow ends)

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Setting a Slot Value

For example, if the user mentions their birth year during a conversation, we can automatically set the age_category slot to Minor and clear the permission_granted slot, streamlining the interaction accordingly.

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Setting Multiple Slots

You can set multiple slots in one step. Simply click on “Set another slot” button to add more. You can see how many slots are set in one step by reading the number on the node.

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Clearing a Slot

Use this option when a slot’s current value is no longer valid or needed. For example, if a user attempts to transfer more money than available, you can inform them of the issue and then clear the amount slot, prompting them to enter a correct value.

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Persisting a Slot value

Use this option when you want to persist slot’s value even after the flow ends.