# Using variables
You can easily customize your responses or templates with dynamic content like your recipient's name by using our variables templating engine.
A response like this:
```liquid
Hi {{ recipient.first_name | default: 'there' }},
```
… if it matches a `recipient.first_name` would render something like this
> Hi Philippe,
… and if it didn't match anything something like this:
> Hi there,
## Getting started
### Adding variables
Adding a variable to a response is as easy as clicking the **{{** icon in the response composer:
A new modal will open where you can easily create your variable without knowing the exact syntax.
You can also create a response with dynamic content that entirely change depending if a variable is present or not.
It would look like this:
```liquid
{% if recipient.first_name == null %}Hello,
{% else %}Hi {{ recipient.first_name }},{% endif %}
```
... if there's no recipient first name, it will render like this:
> Hello,
... and if there's a recipient's first name, it will render like this:
> Hi Philippe,
### Build forms
When adding a variable, you don't have to use one that matches a data point provided by Missive ([recipient](#recipient-object), [user](#user-object)). You can create a variable linked to no data, like in this screenshot:
{% hint style="warning" %}
Make sure to use **underscores** and **dots** instead of spaces.
{% endhint %}
When inserted in a draft, a form will ask the Missive user what should the value be:
Instead of using text placeholders (that you might forget to replace), this technique lets you create forms your team always has to fill in when inserting a response.
### Liquid.js
Our templating engine is based on [liquid.js](https://shopify.github.io/liquid/) and supports all of its [tags](https://shopify.github.io/liquid/tags/control-flow/) and [filters](https://shopify.github.io/liquid/filters). Make sure to read the documentation if you want to go deeper and create complex logic.
## Objects
### `recipient` **object**
The recipient data is matched by first looking into the user contacts for matches based on the message recipient address, then on the message data itself.
#### Labels
Contact labels can be used to scope the search. For instance `{{ recipient.work.phone_number }}` would search only in phone numbers with the label *work*.
| Object key | Description | Example |
| -------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `recipient.handle` | Handle of the recipient(s). This depends on the message type, can be an email address, a phone number, etc. |
+1 (155) 555-555
@frodo
|
| `recipient.name` | First and last name(s) of your recipient(s). | `Philippe Lehoux` |
| `recipient.first_name` | First name(s) of your recipient(s). | `Philippe` |
| `recipient.middle_name` | Middle name(s) of your recipient(s). | `L.` |
| `recipient.last_name` | Last name(s) of your recipient(s). | `Lehoux` |
| `recipient.email` | Email address(es) of your recipient(s). | `frodo@missiveapp.com` |
| `recipient.phone_number` | Phone number of your recipient(s). | `+1 (155) 555-555` |
| `recipient.url` | URL(s) associated with your recipient(s). | `https://missiveapp.com/` |
| `recipient.physical_address` | Physical address(es) associated with your recipient(s). | 123 Missive Street
Quebec, QC, G1K 3B4
Canada
|
| `recipient.twitter` | Twitter username(s) associated with your recipient(s). | `@frodo` |
| `recipient.facebook` | Facebook username(s) associated with your recipient(s). | `Philippe Lehoux` |
| `recipient.nickname` | Nickname of your recipient(s). | `Chewbacca` |
| `recipient.prefix` | Prefix(es) of your recipient(s). | `Mr.` |
| `recipient.suffix` | Suffix(es) of your recipient(s). | `PhD` |
| `recipient.gender` | Gender(s) of your recipient(s). | `Male` |
| `recipient.file_as` | File as value of your recipient(s). | `ACME` |
| `recipient.phonetic_first_name` | Phonetic first name(s) of your recipient(s). | |
| `recipient.phonetic_last_name` | Phonetic last name(s) of your recipient(s). | |
| `recipient.phonetic_middle_name` | Phonetic middle name(s) of your recipient(s). | |
| `recipient.custom.order_amount` | Access your recipient(s) custom contact data. Both variations **Order Amount** and **order\_amount** would be accessible using the same key: `recipient.custom.order_amount` | `$99` |
### `user` **object**
The user object data is matched with the logged-in Missive user (you).
| Object key | Description | Example |
| ------------------- | ------------------------- | ---------------------- |
| `user.first_name` | First name of the user | `Philippe` |
| `user.last_name` | Last name of the user | `Lehoux` |
| `user.name` | Name of the user | `Philippe Lehoux` |
| `user.email` | Email address of the user | `frodo@missiveapp.com` |
| `user.avatar_url` | URL of the user avatar | `https://...` |
| `user.status` | Status of the user | `Working from home` |
| `user.status_emoji` | Status emoji of the user | 🏠 |
### `conversation` **object**
The conversation object data is matched with the current conversation.
| Object key | Description | Example |
| ----------------- | -------------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| `conversation.id` | The ID of the conversation | `d85eed67-5ac2-477b-aa27-521f01eb9783` |
### `message` **object**
The message object data is matched with the current draft.
| Object key | Description | Example |
| ------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `message.id` | The ID of the message | `d85eed67-5ac2-477b-aa27-521f01eb9783` |
| `message.from_handle` | Handle of the sender. This depends on the message type, can be an email address, a phone number, etc. |
+1 (155) 555-555
@frodo
|
| `message.from_email` | Email address of the sender | `info@missiveapp.com` |
| `message.from_name` | Name of the sender | `Philippe Lehoux` |
| `message.from_first_name` | First name of the sender | `Philippe` |
| `message.from_last_name` | Last name of the sender | `Lehoux` |
