Variable Types

The 4 Variable Types

String

Text values (words, sentences, single letters)

Number

Numeric values (integers and decimals)

Boolean

True or false only

Array

A list of values (ordered collection)

Variable editor showing Type dropdown set to Number with Default Value, Allowed Values, and Min/Max fields — The Type dropdown lets you choose from String, Number, Boolean, or Array — along with Default Value, Allowed Values, and Min/Max constraints

String

What it is: Text values — words, sentences, single characters, or any string of characters. Default value: Usually "" (empty string) Examples:

"correct" (single word)
"John Smith" (multiple words)
"Safety-Procedure-001" (identifier with special characters)
"The valve is open." (sentence)
"" (empty)

When to use:

Store the learner’s name, username, or email
Store selected answers (“Option A”, “Door B”)
Store status values (“open”, “closed”, “waiting”)
Store IDs or codes

Example variable:

Variable Name: selectedAnswer
Type: string
Default Value: ""
// Stores the choice the learner made in a quiz

Later in actions:
- If learner picks "Option A", Set Variable: selectedAnswer = "Option A"
- In condition: selectedAnswer == "Option A" ? go to "Correct Path" : "Incorrect Path"

Using strings in conditions:

selectedAnswer == "correct"
userName === "admin"
feedbackText !== ""

Number

What it is: Numeric values — integers (whole numbers) or decimals (numbers with a point). Default value: Usually 0 Examples:

0, 1, 100 (integers)
3.14, 0.5, 99.99 (decimals)
-10 (negative)

When to use:

Store scores or points
Store attempt counts
Store time values (in seconds or milliseconds)
Store percentages or ratings
Store object positions or angles

Example variables:

Variable Name: score
Type: number
Default Value: 0
// Running total of points

Variable Name: attempts
Type: number
Default Value: 0
// How many times learner has tried

Variable Name: elapsedSeconds
Type: number
Default Value: 0
// Time spent in training

Later in actions:
- Set Variable: score = score + 10 (add points)
- Set Variable: attempts = attempts + 1 (increment)
- Set Variable: elapsedSeconds = (now() - startTime) / 1000 (calculate)

Using numbers in conditions:

score >= 80
attempts < 3
elapsedSeconds > 120

Boolean

What it is: A value that is either true or false — nothing else. Default value: Usually false or true Examples:

true (yes, complete, open, on)
false (no, incomplete, closed, off)

When to use:

Track yes/no states (is something complete? is it open?)
Track toggles (is audio enabled? is advanced mode on?)
Gate features (has learner watched the intro?)
Status flags (is this section unlocked?)

Example variables:

Variable Name: isQuizComplete
Type: boolean
Default Value: false
// Quiz not started yet

Variable Name: hasWatchedIntro
Type: boolean
Default Value: false
// Intro not watched yet

Variable Name: audioEnabled
Type: boolean
Default Value: true
// Audio on by default

Later in actions:
- Set Variable: isQuizComplete = true (when quiz finishes)
- Set Variable: hasWatchedIntro = true (after intro plays)

Using booleans in conditions:

isQuizComplete == true
hasWatchedIntro == false
audioEnabled ? "Play sound" : "Silent"

Booleans are simple and fast. Use them for simple on/off states instead of strings like “complete”/“incomplete”.

Array

What it is: An ordered list of values. Each item in the list is accessed by its position (1st item, 2nd item, etc.). Default value: Usually [] (empty array) or an initial list like ["step1", "step2"] Examples:

// List of completed steps
["Read instructions", "Identify valve", "Turn valve"]

// List of answers
["Option A", "Option B", "Option A"]

// List of numbers (scores from multiple attempts)
[85, 92, 78]

// Empty array
[]

When to use:

Store a list of items (completed steps, selected choices)
Store a history (previous scores, timestamps)
Track multiple related values in order

Example variable:

Variable Name: completedSteps
Type: array
Default Value: []

Later in actions:
- Append to array: completedSteps = ["Read intro", "Start task", "Review results"]

In conditions: len(completedSteps) >= 3 ? "All steps done" : "In progress"

In text: "You've completed {{len(completedSteps)}} of 5 steps."

Using arrays in conditions:

len(completedSteps) >= 3          // At least 3 items
len(selectedAnswers) == 10        // Exactly 10 answers
len(completedSteps) > 0           // Array is not empty

Choosing the Right Type: Quick Reference

Use this table to decide which type to use:

Data	Type	Why
A learner’s name, username	string	Text value
Score, points, count	number	Numeric value
Answer to a multiple-choice question	string	Text value (“Option A”)
Is something complete? Open?	boolean	Yes/no only
Number of attempts	number	Numeric value
Elapsed time (seconds)	number	Numeric value
List of visited states	array	Ordered list of items
Quiz answers for 5 questions	array	List of answers
Multiple scores from retries	array	List of numbers
A flag (audio enabled, intro watched)	boolean	Yes/no only

Type Compatibility and Conversion

Be careful when mixing types:

// ✓ OK: Compare same types
score == 80              // number == number
selectedAnswer == "A"    // string == string
isComplete == true       // boolean == boolean

// ⚠ Risky: Different types may behave unexpectedly
score == "80"            // Might work, but not recommended
"80" + 20 = ?            // String concatenation or math? Unclear

// ✓ OK: Use functions to convert
len(arrayVariable)       // Works on arrays and strings
clamp(score, 0, 100)     // Works on numbers

When building conditions, make sure you’re comparing the right types. A string “80” is different from a number 80. If you’re comparing numbers, make sure both are numbers.

Default Values Matter

Every variable must have a default value. Choose defaults carefully:

Variable	Type	Default	Why
`score`	number	0	No points yet
`selectedAnswer`	string	""	No answer selected
`isComplete`	boolean	false	Not done
`completedSteps`	array	[]	No steps completed

Defaults are important because your conditions rely on them. If a variable starts undefined or null, some conditions might fail.

Best Practices

Pick the right type from the start

Changing types later can break conditions and actions. Plan ahead.

Use simple types when possible

Strings, numbers, and booleans are easier to work with than arrays. Use them unless you really need a list.

For lists, use arrays

Instead of answer1, answer2, answer3, use one selectedAnswers array.

Be consistent with defaults

Empty strings, zero, false, [] — use sensible defaults so conditions work correctly.

Next Steps

Learn about:

Creating Variables — Create variables in your training
Variable Interpolation — Use variables in text
Conditions — Use variables to control training flow

Creator App

Workflow

Transitions

Variables

Actions — Training Control

Actions — Step Instructions

Actions — Media Playback

Actions — Object Manipulation

Actions — UI Control

Actions — Speed & Time

Actions — Training Feedback

Actions — Hand & Tool Visualization

The 4 Variable Types

String

Number

Boolean

Array

String

Number

Boolean

Array

Choosing the Right Type: Quick Reference

Type Compatibility and Conversion

Default Values Matter

Best Practices

Next Steps

​The 4 Variable Types

String

Number

Boolean

Array

​String

​Number

​Boolean

​Array

​Choosing the Right Type: Quick Reference

​Type Compatibility and Conversion

​Default Values Matter

​Best Practices

​Next Steps

The 4 Variable Types

String

Number

Boolean

Array

Choosing the Right Type: Quick Reference

Type Compatibility and Conversion

Default Values Matter

Best Practices

Next Steps