> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://botpress-charmenta-pr-711.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Assigning a value

export const GoodToKnow = ({children}) => {
  return <Callout icon="notebook-pen" color="#65d15a" iconType="regular">
      {children}
    </Callout>;
};

A newly-created variable is like an empty box—you need put something inside it before you can use it. This is called *assigning a value* to your variable.

Let's use our `firstName` variable to remember the user's first name. Go back to the Main Workflow and select your Autonomous Node. This opens its inspector:

<Frame>
  <img alt="Autonomous Node inspector" className="block dark:hidden" src="https://mintcdn.com/botpress-charmenta-pr-711/ksS2w8akfAyqnaIC/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/inspector.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=ksS2w8akfAyqnaIC&q=85&s=f18033505fda602cf87da7dd0af3fcdc" width="1264" height="502" data-path="tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/inspector.png" />

  <img alt="Autonomous Node inspector" className="hidden dark:block" src="https://mintcdn.com/botpress-charmenta-pr-711/ksS2w8akfAyqnaIC/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/inspector-dark.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=ksS2w8akfAyqnaIC&q=85&s=d5816b0e78e46232b5a8b000151bd217" width="1264" height="502" data-path="tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/inspector-dark.png" />
</Frame>

## Giving access to variables

By default, the Autonomous Node can't check what's in a variable or assign it a different value.

Let's give it access. Select **+ Add variable(s)**, then select `workflow.firstName`. Then, check **Allow write access**, so your bot has permission to modify the variable.

<Frame>
  <img alt="Variable access" className="block dark:hidden" src="https://mintcdn.com/botpress-charmenta-pr-711/ksS2w8akfAyqnaIC/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/variable-access.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=ksS2w8akfAyqnaIC&q=85&s=6fd49e87b149dfca122fec546b4bc520" width="1264" height="152" data-path="tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/variable-access.png" />

  <img alt="Variable access" className="hidden dark:block" src="https://mintcdn.com/botpress-charmenta-pr-711/ksS2w8akfAyqnaIC/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/variable-access-dark.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=ksS2w8akfAyqnaIC&q=85&s=22a1dfe6c6221cfa8c97d95e1a2d4033" width="1264" height="152" data-path="tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/variable-access-dark.png" />
</Frame>

## Modifying your prompt

Next, modify the prompt so your bot knows how to work with the variable. Erase everything in the **Instructions** field, then paste the following:

```txt wrap theme={null}
You are Teddy 🐶, the customer support bot for Teddy's Pet Shop.

If the `firstName` variable has a value, use it to address the user by name. If not, prompt the user to enter their name, then assign it to `firstName`.
```

Now, switch back to the Emulator and start a conversation with your bot:

<Frame>
  <img alt="Variable test" className="block dark:hidden" src="https://mintcdn.com/botpress-charmenta-pr-711/ksS2w8akfAyqnaIC/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/variable-test.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=ksS2w8akfAyqnaIC&q=85&s=47ce92400a012d3c0cdb500fe18c1ae1" width="1264" height="804" data-path="tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/variable-test.png" />

  <img alt="Variable test" className="hidden dark:block" src="https://mintcdn.com/botpress-charmenta-pr-711/ksS2w8akfAyqnaIC/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/variable-test-dark.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=ksS2w8akfAyqnaIC&q=85&s=2efe28f530bcd5c5e878457dcf3937af" width="1264" height="804" data-path="tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/variable-test-dark.png" />
</Frame>

Nice! Our modified prompt worked. If you look back at the Variables section, you can see that the value updated:

<Frame>
  <img alt="New value" className="block dark:hidden" src="https://mintcdn.com/botpress-charmenta-pr-711/ksS2w8akfAyqnaIC/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/new-value.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=ksS2w8akfAyqnaIC&q=85&s=2fe8d8d08e01b985bff86647fe459477" width="1198" height="286" data-path="tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/new-value.png" />

  <img alt="New value" className="hidden dark:block" src="https://mintcdn.com/botpress-charmenta-pr-711/ksS2w8akfAyqnaIC/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/new-value-dark.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=ksS2w8akfAyqnaIC&q=85&s=b0fd30375c24ce30ef39e71b26eda41a" width="1198" height="286" data-path="tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/new-value-dark.png" />
</Frame>
