# Options

{% hint style="info" %}
Most commonly used on SMS and WhatsApp channels.
{% endhint %}

Option block is used when a selection from a list of items is to be made. The action block would render the list of options as follows:

<figure><img src="https://2580337444-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FsrMxU8nO3RjusUiYuXBB%2Fuploads%2FOs9vwHtqFzf9iynww1xo%2FCleanShot%202023-08-23%20at%2017.40.10%402x.png?alt=media&#x26;token=4f5302b8-0dbd-425b-8928-7ee546c26c58" alt=""><figcaption><p>View of how options will be visible</p></figcaption></figure>

As the list of options is displayed with numbers i.e. 1, 2, 3, etc. it is best suited for channels like WhatsApp and SMS.

## Configurations on the action block:

### Message

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

### List of options

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

You can have up to **10 options** in one action block. In case 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.

### Hot keywords

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

{% hint style="info" %}
You can define more than 1 hot keywords
{% endhint %}

### Track links

Enabling this option will create short URLs for all the URLs mentioned in this action block.&#x20;

([Refer to this article](https://docs.swiftsell.biz/bot-builder/action-block/broken-reference))

{% hint style="warning" %}
This will only work if **Link tracking** is enabled in your account settings.
{% endhint %}