> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://botpress-charmenta-pr-696.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-696/gMIy6l3I-2e0lgT5/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/inspector.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=gMIy6l3I-2e0lgT5&q=85&s=0b510ad3e2f16efe8e2f1f5a9f848204" 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-696/gMIy6l3I-2e0lgT5/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/inspector-dark.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=gMIy6l3I-2e0lgT5&q=85&s=e0ff99bcae694d1a2bce2a0dacc58231" 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-696/gMIy6l3I-2e0lgT5/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/variable-access.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=gMIy6l3I-2e0lgT5&q=85&s=3b1f9a62e31deee59a0dc043fd4dce58" 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-696/gMIy6l3I-2e0lgT5/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/variable-access-dark.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=gMIy6l3I-2e0lgT5&q=85&s=c969ae643b30f1b95a4a6be4dd10182c" 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-696/gMIy6l3I-2e0lgT5/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/variable-test.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=gMIy6l3I-2e0lgT5&q=85&s=f8d7a44a69f63919ca3322e4edcb7ae3" 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-696/gMIy6l3I-2e0lgT5/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/variable-test-dark.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=gMIy6l3I-2e0lgT5&q=85&s=5f1b05a64826d516b47af815e6346963" 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-696/gMIy6l3I-2e0lgT5/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/new-value.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=gMIy6l3I-2e0lgT5&q=85&s=631e5f260affa4ad59de82f342656355" 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-696/gMIy6l3I-2e0lgT5/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/new-value-dark.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=gMIy6l3I-2e0lgT5&q=85&s=ea924d19c112106c694551bf7c4af9c6" width="1198" height="286" data-path="tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/new-value-dark.png" />
</Frame>
