> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://botpress-charmenta-pr-732.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-732/okwPrHqCmmL4sTOv/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/inspector.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=okwPrHqCmmL4sTOv&q=85&s=a8ee21fe19e7fe226e0d4214c2d4f0d5" 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-732/okwPrHqCmmL4sTOv/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/inspector-dark.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=okwPrHqCmmL4sTOv&q=85&s=50028fd8e952d774391f85021c0cc8e0" 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-732/okwPrHqCmmL4sTOv/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/variable-access.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=okwPrHqCmmL4sTOv&q=85&s=fc3022fafabf5bc95884e3f555d96040" 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-732/okwPrHqCmmL4sTOv/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/variable-access-dark.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=okwPrHqCmmL4sTOv&q=85&s=55590b1fc88e5bb54eec2701b302a36d" 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-732/okwPrHqCmmL4sTOv/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/variable-test.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=okwPrHqCmmL4sTOv&q=85&s=fa8c2949960d7d3e0477fd7c181ce012" 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-732/okwPrHqCmmL4sTOv/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/variable-test-dark.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=okwPrHqCmmL4sTOv&q=85&s=e74c1b1e25d18b11e34b95d46c13f8a0" 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-732/okwPrHqCmmL4sTOv/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/new-value.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=okwPrHqCmmL4sTOv&q=85&s=7497f300a7d7e2be525df50bec783713" 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-732/okwPrHqCmmL4sTOv/tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/new-value-dark.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=okwPrHqCmmL4sTOv&q=85&s=c5357cd515f956786560f7e73bc14baa" width="1198" height="286" data-path="tutorial/basics/storing-information/assets/new-value-dark.png" />
</Frame>
