> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://relevanceai.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Text input

> Input a line of text

## What is a Text input

Text input is an input component that allows you to enter a line of text.
The value can be entered by the user or later fetched from an uploaded dataset (bulk-run).

## When to use the Text input component

The Text input component is suitable for short pieces of text. Such as a question, name, topic, etc.

## How to add a Text input to my custom Tool

The Text input component is listed under User inputs. You can add it to your Tool using the main section
or the side-bar.
![Text inputs](https://relevanceai.com/docs/images/build-custom-tools/user-input/text-input-1.png)

## Text input setting

1. Title: the title of your input component
2. Description: To describe what this input is or will be used for, etc.
3. Variable name: located on the bottom left and marked in green, you can rename the variable and use the name to access the
   data in your Tool
4. Optional/Required: located on the top right, as the name suggests, unlike an optional component, a required components
   must be provided before your analysis starts.

![Input setting](https://relevanceai.com/docs/images/build-custom-tools/user-input/general_input.png)

<Tip>
  **Set a default value**

  To set a default value for an input component, enter the value and click on the small setting icon on the bottom right. Next click on
  `Set current value`.
  ![Set default value](https://relevanceai.com/docs/images/build-custom-tools/tool-step/set-default-value-tip.png)
</Tip>

## Access the entered text

To access the entered text use the variable mode `{{}}` and the input step name. Under the default setting it is accessible
via `{{text}}` (or `params.text` in  a JavaScript step).