# Options

{% hint style="info" %}
Available only for SMS and WhatsApp channels.
{% endhint %}

Using this action block you can display a list of options the user can choose from. It is most commonly used when a selection from a list of items is to be made. 

The options in the list are displayed in an ordered list, such as:

<div align="left"><figure><img src="/files/Tt8X8dmQMQMr7EY8lPw9" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

Option action block is made up of the following:

1. Message
2. List of options
3. Error message
4. Variable
5. Hot keywords

### Message

This is the question the bot would ask while presenting the list of options.&#x20;

For example, "Please choose from the list of options below".

### List of options

The list of options that are to be shown will be defined here.&#x20;

Up to **10 options** can be included in one action block. If you need more, you can nest 'Option' blocks together.&#x20;

Users can select from options by typing the following,&#x20;

* The numeric digit i.e. 1, 2, 3...
* Alphabetic name i.e. one, two, three...&#x20;
* Value of the option itself, i.e., Blue, Green, etc.

### Error message

When submitting a selection from the list of options, if any input does not match the list, this error message will be shown along with the list of options.&#x20;

The user will have to retry by entering a valid number.

### Variable

Users can store the value of the selected option in a variable for future reference.&#x20;

For example, if I choose 2 from the above image, 'Yellow' would be stored on the variable.

[Learn more about variables](/build/interface/variables.md).

### Hot keywords

You can define hot keywords that bring users to this action block, wherever they are in the conversation flow.&#x20;

Imagine you are at a certain point in the flow. To return to this action block, you can type the keyword MENU.

### Enable free text

By enabling "Enable free text" option, users can either choose from predefined buttons or type their own response in the chat input. Also, on the canvas a new "Free text" node will be added, which can be connected to an [AI agent](/build/action-blocks/agent.md) action block for AI-generated responses.

This allows for more natural, two-way conversations, and any free text entered can be handled by an AI agent for dynamic responses.

<figure><img src="/files/hqKBOn3A0aD1bNt4rAmi" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>


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