Context and variables
Overview
In Moveo, you can store temporary information during a conversation using context variables. These variables apply only to a specific conversation and are automatically deleted once the conversation ends. Context is a collection of key-value pairs that help AI Agents make decisions, store state, and enhance dialog interactions.
Context variables can be set at different levels:
- Environment level (see Context Bundles)
- Agent level (within AI Agents and Dialogs)
Additionally, context can store user-related information, such as their name, email, or other relevant data.
Types of Context Variables
Dialog Variables
You can create and store variables within a dialog using questions
. These variables are flexible and can be named as needed.User Variables
User-related information is stored in specific system-defined variables, including:
$user.display_name– User's name$user.email– User's email address$user.user_idor$user.external_id– Unique user ID (depends on the communication channel)
Some user variables, such as user IDs, are automatically assigned by the system, while others require manual input via questions or forms at the start of a conversation.
User variables cannot be set directly. To assign a value using a Set Variable action
, select the appropriate key (e.g.,$user.display_name).For webhook responses, refer to the Webhook Reference.
System Variables
Moveo provides system-generated variables that contain essential metadata about the conversation:
| Variable | Description |
|---|---|
$sys-channel | Communication channel of the conversation |
$sys-unknown_counter | Number of times a fallback was triggered |
$sys-business | Indicates if the conversation occurs within business hours |
$sys-desk | Identifies the conversation environment |
$sys-session | Unique conversation ID |
$sys-user_message_counter | Number of messages sent by the user |
The $sys-unknown_counter variable is zero-indexed, meaning the first unknown response occurrence is stored as 0.
Bundle Variables
You can import variables from Context Bundles associated with different environments. These variables follow the format: {{$global.bundle.variable}}.
Tags
assigned by the AI Agent during a conversation are stored in$tags as a list. For example, if the assistant assigns location and hours tags, $tags will contain ['location', 'hours'].
This variable is useful for:
- Filtering conversations in Analytics
- Triggering specific actions using Rules
- Enhancing human-agent interactions (agents can manually assign tags)
To add a new tag, use the Add Tag dialog action.
Live Instructions
The live_instructions variable allows real-time updates to the AI Agent, guiding its behavior dynamically based on external input.
Using Context in Dialogs
Context variables enable various dialog functionalities, such as:
- Setting new variables
- Updating existing ones
- Deleting variables
- Making decisions using conditions (Learn more)
For example, you can check whether a user has provided their email and prompt them accordingly if it's missing.
Ways to Set Context Variables
- Questions – Collect information during a dialog.
- Webhooks – Update variables in real time based on external data.
- Set Variable Action – Directly assign values in dialogs.
Using Context Variables
You can reference variables in the dialog by using {{$variable}}.
For example:
Hello {{$user.display_name}}, how can I assist you today?
Refer to the documentation for more guides on handling context variables effectively.