Setting Validation Rules for Input Fields in BotSailor

Input validation is essential when collecting user data through your WhatsApp chatbot. Whether you're capturing names, emails, or phone numbers, clean and structured input ensures accurate data and better automation. With BotSailor's Input Flow, you can set reply types to enforce field validation without needing any code.

This guide walks you through how to configure input validation for your WhatsApp chatbot using BotSailor’s Input Flow builder.

What Is Input Validation in BotSailor?

Input validation in BotSailor refers to the process of restricting user responses to match specific data types. When creating a User Input Flow, you can specify what kind of input is expected — such as text, email, number, phone, URL, file, date, etc.

This prevents bad data from entering your system and ensures the collected information is actionable, especially when syncing with third-party tools like CRMs or Google Sheets.

Why Use Validation Rules in Input Flows?

✅ Accurate Data Collection – Ensure you only collect valid emails, phone numbers, URLs, or numeric values.
✅ Improved Automation – Clean inputs make it easier to run automated flows, send notifications, and trigger events.
✅ User Guidance – Help users input data correctly by enforcing format expectations.
✅ Reduced Errors – Avoid failed submissions or malformed data entries in your backend.

Step-by-Step: Setting Up Input Validation Rules

Follow these simple steps to create a validation-based input flow:

1. Access the Input Flow Settings and Click “Create” to Add a New Flow

Go to Bot Manager from the left sidebar → Select your bot → Click on Input Flow.

Tap the Create button on the top right.

2. Name Your Campaign

Give your campaign a meaningful name like “Validation based input flow test”.

3. Add Questions with Validation Types

Each question can be configured to accept a specific reply type. Examples:

✅ Name Collection

• Reply type: Text

✅ Email Collection

• Reply type: Email

✅ Phone Number Collection

• Reply type: Phone

✅ Other Supported Reply Types

BotSailor supports the following additional types:

• Number
• URL
• File
• Image
• Video
• Date
• Time
• Datetime

4. Set a Thank You Message & Save the Flow

Once the questions are configured, add a final message node like:
“Thank you for your information.”

Click Save on the top right to activate your flow.

Pro Tips for Better Validation

• Use email validation for newsletter opt-ins or CRM integrations.
• Select phone for COD verification or SMS marketing.
• Use date/time/datetime when collecting appointment bookings.
• Custom fields can help organize responses by type or segment users based on answers.

FAQs

Can I validate numeric input only?
Yes, use the “Number” reply type to ensure users only submit digits.

What happens if the user enters the wrong input?
BotSailor will prompt the user to re-enter until the input matches the selected reply type.

Can I use a custom regex for validation?
Currently, validation is based on predefined types like Email, Phone, etc., not custom regex.

Where is the data stored?
Responses are saved inside BotSailor and can also be sent to Webhooks or Google Sheets.

Can I use multiple validations in one flow?
Absolutely! You can chain multiple validated questions (email, phone, number, etc.) in one Input Flow.

Can I test the flow before going live?
Yes. After saving, you can trigger the flow on your WhatsApp test chat.

Can I edit an existing validation-based flow?
Yes, go to Bot Manager > Input Flow, click the edit icon next to your campaign.

Is validation supported on Messenger and Telegram too?
Yes, Input Flow validations work similarly across supported channels.