Variables

A variable is a mechanism that allows you to store, modify and reuse a value defined by the user or for the application (a number, text etc..). This value affects the user interface in some way at a given time.

Here are some use cases: store and display the user’s score, know if the user has already opened the application or not, store a color code, save a user’s selection…

Variables allow you to add more customization in your application and set up logical scenarios with the conditions.

What is a variable?

A variable associates a name with a value that can change.

Choose the name of the variable: it must be unique, composed of alphanumeric characters, and it must allow you to understand its use explicitly. For example: score to store the user’s score or selected_item to store the identifier of an item selected by the user.

Once your variable is created, you can associate a default value with it, change its value from any trigger and display it in the interface.

When you create a variable via the Datastore, this variable is local: it is stored only on the user’s device. It is persistent even after closing the application. However, it is not possible to access it if the user uses another device or to know its value outside the application.

Create a variable

To create a variable:

1. Add a Datastore at the Project level so the variable remains available throughout the app.
2. Click the Add property button.
3. Choose the name of your variable and its type. You can set a default value.

Variable types

Type	Description	Example use case
Boolean	True or false value (true / false)	Menu open/closed, favorite toggled
Number	Integer or decimal numeric value	Score, counter, age
Text	String of characters	Username, entered answer
Color	Hexadecimal color code	Dynamic theme, custom background
Array	List of values	Multiple selections, bookmarks

Edit the value of a variable

You can change the value of a variable at any time and from any action in your user interface: when a screen is displayed, when a button is clicked, etc.

Select your trigger and the action Interact with a data source. Select your Datastore and the action Create/Update Data (Local).

Choose from the functions available: Set, Increment, Decrement, Add, Delete.

In the example below, the identifier of the current element is added within the variable saved_items (for the bookmarking).

Display the value of a variable

Thanks to data binding, you can display the value of your variable in any component that accepts a data source (text, image, color…).

To display a variable in a text block:

1. Insert a Text block.
2. In the Properties panel, click Source.
3. Choose From the Datastore and select your variable.

Reset a variable

To reset a variable to its default value (for example at the start of a quiz), use the Set function with the desired value.

Select your trigger, then the action

. Choose the Set function and enter the reset value (for example 0 for a score).