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

# Rich content

This page documents ABL's rich content output formats: voice configuration, format-specific content (Markdown, Adaptive Cards, HTML, Slack, WhatsApp), carousels, interactive actions, feedback surveys, and reusable templates. For the expression language (operators, functions, `{{}}` interpolation syntax), see [Expressions and functions](/agent-platform/abl-reference/expressions-and-functions).

***

## Rich content

ABL supports multi-format output for delivering responses across different channels (web, mobile, voice, messaging platforms). The `VOICE:`, `RICH_CONTENT:`, and `ACTIONS:` blocks can be attached to any `RESPOND` statement, `COMPLETE` condition, or lifecycle handler. A pure reasoning agent (no `FLOW:`) may also declare top-level `RICH_CONTENT:` and `ACTIONS:` blocks that attach to its generated responses.

### Overview

A single response can include:

* **Plain text** -- the default `RESPOND` string.
* **Voice configuration** -- SSML markup or natural language voice instructions.
* **Rich content** -- Markdown, Adaptive Cards, HTML, Slack Block Kit, WhatsApp, or AG-UI.
* **Carousels** -- scrollable card collections with images and buttons.
* **Interactive actions** -- buttons, select menus, and input fields.
* **Templates** -- reusable named response definitions with interpolation.

The runtime selects the appropriate format based on the delivery channel.

### Voice configuration

Voice configuration provides channel-specific voice output. The `VOICE:` block can appear alongside any `RESPOND`.

#### Syntax

```yaml theme={null}
RESPOND: "Your booking is confirmed for December 15th."
VOICE:
  ssml: |
    <speak>
      Your booking is confirmed for <say-as interpret-as="date" format="mdy">12/15/2025</say-as>.
    </speak>
  instructions: "Speak in a warm, congratulatory tone"
  plain_text: "Your booking is confirmed for December fifteenth."
```

#### Voice properties

| Property | Type | Required | Default | Description |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| `provider` | `string` | No | -- | TTS provider (for example. `elevenlabs`, `google`, `azure`, `openai`). |
| `voice_id` | `string` | No | -- | Provider-specific voice identifier. |
| `speed` | `number` | No | `1.0` | Speech-rate multiplier (`1.0` = normal). |
| `ssml` | `string` | No | -- | W3C SSML markup for TTS engines (Google, Azure, Amazon Polly). |
| `instructions` | `string` | No | -- | Natural language voice style instructions (OpenAI Realtime, Gemini Live). |
| `plain_text` | `string` | No | -- | Voice-optimized plaintext. Used by ElevenLabs and as a fallback for all engines. |
| `pace` | `number` | No | -- | Numeric speaking-rate multiplier (authoring alias for speed/pace controls). |
| `temperature` | `number` | No | -- | Provider-specific TTS sampling/variation control. |
| `auto_tts_language_switch` | `boolean` | No | -- | Switch the TTS voice/model to match the detected language of the response. |

#### SSML example

```yaml theme={null}
VOICE:
  ssml: |
    <speak>
      <prosody rate="slow" pitch="+2st">
        Your wire transfer of <say-as interpret-as="currency">$50,000 USD</say-as>
        has been executed.
      </prosody>
      <break time="500ms"/>
      The confirmation number is
      <say-as interpret-as="characters">WR-2024-88431</say-as>.
    </speak>
```

#### Natural language instructions

For voice platforms that accept style instructions rather than SSML:

```yaml theme={null}
VOICE:
  instructions: "Speak slowly and clearly, emphasizing the confirmation number. Use a professional but warm tone."
```

### Rich content formats

The rich-content block provides format-specific variants of a response. The runtime selects the variant matching the delivery channel.

<Note>`RICH_CONTENT:` is the canonical block keyword; `FORMATS:` is the original spelling, kept as an accepted alias. The `.agent.yaml` format accepts `rich_content:` or `formats:` the same way. Most places a rich-content block is authored — directly under a `RESPOND:` (in a flow step, `ON_START`, `HOOKS:`, or an `ON_ACTION`/`ON_ERROR` handler), in a tool's `on_result:`/`on_error:` action block, and in a `COMPLETE:` condition (including one with no `RESPOND:` at all) — accept either spelling interchangeably.</Note>

#### Syntax

```yaml theme={null}
RESPOND: "Here are your flight options."
FORMATS:
  MARKDOWN: |
    ## Flight Options
    | Flight | Departure | Arrival | Price |
    |--------|-----------|---------|-------|
    | AA 142 | 8:00 AM   | 11:30 AM | $349 |
    | UA 891 | 10:15 AM  | 1:45 PM  | $289 |

  ADAPTIVE_CARD: |
    {
      "type": "AdaptiveCard",
      "body": [
        {"type": "TextBlock", "text": "Flight Options", "size": "large"}
      ]
    }

  HTML: |
    <div class="flight-results">
      <h2>Flight Options</h2>
      <table>...</table>
    </div>

  SLACK: |
    {
      "blocks": [
        {"type": "header", "text": {"type": "plain_text", "text": "Flight Options"}}
      ]
    }
```

#### Rich content properties

**Channel-specific string formats:**

| Property | Type | Required | Default | Description |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| `MARKDOWN` | `string` | No | -- | Formatted markdown text. |
| `ADAPTIVE_CARD` | `string` | No | -- | JSON string conforming to the Microsoft Adaptive Cards schema. |
| `HTML` | `string` | No | -- | HTML content for web-based channels. |
| `SLACK` | `string` | No | -- | JSON string conforming to the Slack Block Kit format. |
| `AG_UI` | `string` | No | -- | JSON string for AG-UI / CopilotKit events. |
| `WHATSAPP` | `string` | No | -- | JSON string for WhatsApp interactive messages. |

**Structured template formats** (channel-neutral; the runtime renders them per channel):

| Property | Type | Description |
| - | - | - |
| `CAROUSEL` | `object` | Scrollable card collection. See [Carousels](#carousels). |
| `QUICK_REPLIES` | `array` | Quick-reply chips: each `{ id, label, iconUrl? }`. |
| `LIST` | `object` | `{ title?, items: [{ title, subtitle?, imageUrl?, defaultActionUrl? }] }`. |
| `IMAGE` | `object` | `{ url, alt?, thumbnailUrl?, caption? }`. |
| `VIDEO` | `object` | `{ url, alt?, thumbnailUrl?, caption? }`. |
| `AUDIO` | `object` | `{ url, alt?, thumbnailUrl?, caption? }`. |
| `FILE` | `object` | `{ url, filename, sizeBytes?, mimeType? }`. |
| `KPI` | `object` | `{ label, value, unit?, trend?: up/down/flat, iconUrl? }`. |
| `TABLE` | `object` | `{ columns: [{ key, header, align?: left/center/right }], rows, maxVisibleRows? }`. |
| `CHART` | `object` | `{ type: bar/line/pie, title?, data: [{ label, value, color? }] }`. |
| `FORM` | `object` | `{ title?, fields: [ActionElement], submitLabel? }`. |
| `PROGRESS` | `object` | `{ label?, value, max?, variant?: bar/circle }`. |
| `FEEDBACK` | `object` | Rating/feedback survey. `{ FEEDBACK_TEMPLATE?, prompt, type: thumbs/star/scale, max?, submit_label?, pending_message?, success_message?, error_message?, comment_threshold?, comment_prompt?, comment_placeholder?, when?, <field>_rules? }`. See [FEEDBACK surveys](#feedback-surveys). |

<Note>Named templates (in the `TEMPLATES:` block) may also declare a `RENDERABLES:` list — customer-owned structured payloads with `name`, `payload`, optional `targets` (`api`/`sdk_websocket`/`http_async`), `fallbackText`, and `schemaRef`. Data-rich templates (KPI, TABLE, CHART, LIST, CAROUSEL, …) also support collection binding via `from:` / `template:` to render one entry per array item.</Note>

#### Template modifiers

Two cross-cutting modifiers apply to structured templates:

* **`when`** — a conditional render guard (expression). On an agent-level rich-content block, the template renders only when the expression is truthy at reasoning finalization. Available on the rich-content block and on each structured template. See [Expressions and functions](/agent-platform/abl-reference/expressions-and-functions) for expression syntax.
* **`adaptive`** — on `LIST`, `KPI`, and `TABLE` templates whose items/rows are bound to a tool variable, set `adaptive: true` to let the reasoning agent narrow which items/rows/columns render for the user's request.

### FEEDBACK surveys

A `FEEDBACK` block renders a rating/feedback card. Author it inside a `RICH_CONTENT:` (or `FORMATS:`) block.

<Warning>**Inline feedback is deprecated** (`DEPRECATED_INLINE_FEEDBACK`). A `FEEDBACK` block without a `FEEDBACK_TEMPLATE` still compiles, but the compiler warns: *"Inline feedback is deprecated and will be removed in a future version. Define a survey in the project Surveys area and reference it with `FEEDBACK_TEMPLATE`."* Prefer referencing a project survey template.</Warning>

#### Referencing a survey template

Set `FEEDBACK_TEMPLATE` to a project survey name. The `prompt` and `type` (the survey's **measure**) then come from the template, so they become optional here; any copy fields you do set act as **per-string overrides** (useful for translation):

```yaml theme={null}
RICH_CONTENT:
  FEEDBACK:
    FEEDBACK_TEMPLATE: Post_Chat_NPS
    prompt: "How likely are you to recommend us?"   # optional copy override
```

When a template is named you may **not** override the measure — `type`, `max`, `scoring`, `range`, and `comment_threshold` are owned by the template, and setting them alongside a template is a compile error. Naming a template that doesn't exist in the project is an error (`UNKNOWN_SURVEY_TEMPLATE`).

`expires_after` is the one exception to that rule — a numeric answer-window TTL (in seconds) that **is** overridable per-agent even when a template is referenced:

```yaml theme={null}
RICH_CONTENT:
  FEEDBACK:
    FEEDBACK_TEMPLATE: Post_Chat_NPS
    prompt: "How likely are you to recommend us?"
    expires_after: 600    # widen the answer window to 10 minutes for this agent
```

The effective window is the agent's `expires_after` if set, else the template's own TTL, else a 300-second platform default — clamped to 30–86400 seconds either way. A survey presented to the customer can only be answered within this window; a submission after it expires is rejected.

#### Inline FEEDBACK (deprecated)

Without a template, `prompt` and `type` are required:

| Field | Type | Description |
| - | - | - |
| `prompt` | `string` | The question (aliases: `question`, `label`). |
| `type` | `"thumbs"` \| `"star"` \| `"scale"` | Rating measure. `stars` is an accepted alias for `star`. |
| `max` | `number` | Maximum rating value (for `star`/`scale`). |
| `submit_label` | `string` | Submit-button label. |
| `pending_message` / `success_message` / `error_message` | `string` | Status copy. |
| `comment_prompt` / `comment_placeholder` | `string` | Free-text comment field copy. |
| `comment_threshold` | `number` | Rating at/below which the comment field is requested. |
| `when` | `string` | Conditional render guard (expression). |

#### Condition-based wording (`<field>_rules`)

To vary wording by condition — the second way to translate a survey, kept next to the source copy — add a `<field>_rules` list. Each rule has a `when` expression and the field's replacement text (the field key, or the alias `value`). Rules are ordered, first match wins:

```yaml theme={null}
FEEDBACK:
  FEEDBACK_TEMPLATE: Post_Chat_NPS
  prompt: "How likely are you to recommend us?"
  prompt_rules:
    - when: "language == 'es'"
      prompt: "¿Nos recomendaría?"          # or:  value: "¿Nos recomendaría?"
  comment_placeholder_rules:
    - when: "language == 'es'"
      value: "Cuéntenos más..."
```

Only **wording** fields accept rules: `prompt`, `submit_label`, `pending_message`, `success_message`, `error_message`, `comment_prompt`, `comment_placeholder`. There is no `type_rules`/`max_rules` — the measure is never rule-selectable.

<Note>Copy rules are evaluated **before the customer answers**, so a `when` expression may reference `max`, `language`, `channel`, and `session` (as `session.<name>`) but **not** `rating`. An invalid condition is a compile error (`INVALID_SURVEY_CONDITION`).</Note>

### Carousels

Carousels display a horizontal scrollable collection of cards, each with a title, subtitle, image, and action buttons.

#### Syntax

```yaml expandable=true theme={null}
FORMATS:
  CAROUSEL:
    - title: "Economy Class"
      subtitle: "$289 - UA 891"
      imageUrl: "https://cdn.example.com/economy.jpg"
      defaultActionUrl: "https://booking.example.com/ua891"
      buttons:
        - id: select_economy
          type: button
          label: "Select"
          value: "ua891_economy"

    - title: "Business Class"
      subtitle: "$1,249 - UA 891"
      imageUrl: "https://cdn.example.com/business.jpg"
      buttons:
        - id: select_business
          type: button
          label: "Select"
          value: "ua891_business"
```

#### Carousel card properties

| Property | Type | Required | Default | Description |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| `title` | `string` | Yes | -- | Card title. |
| `subtitle` | `string` | No | -- | Card subtitle or description. |
| `imageUrl` | `string` | No | -- | URL for the card image. |
| `defaultActionUrl` | `string` | No | -- | URL opened when the card itself is tapped. |
| `buttons` | `array` | No | -- | Action buttons. See [Interactive actions](#interactive-actions). |

### Interactive actions

Interactive actions add buttons, select menus, and input fields to a response. Users interact with these elements, and the agent handles the interactions via `ON_ACTION` blocks.

#### Syntax

```yaml expandable=true theme={null}
RESPOND: "How would you like to proceed?"
ACTIONS:
  - id: confirm_wire
    type: button
    label: "Confirm Wire"
    value: "confirmed"

  - id: modify_amount
    type: button
    label: "Modify Amount"
    value: "modify"

  - id: cancel
    type: button
    label: "Cancel"
    value: "cancelled"
```

#### Action element properties

| Property | Type | Required | Default | Description |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| `id` | `string` | Yes | -- | Unique action identifier. Referenced in `ON_ACTION` handlers. |
| `type` | `string` | Yes | -- | Element type: `button`, `select`, or `input`. |
| `label` | `string` | Yes | -- | Display label. |
| `value` | `string` | No | -- | Hidden value sent when the user interacts with this element. |
| `url` | `string` | No | -- | For `button` type only: clicking opens this link instead of posting the value back to the agent. (Aliases: `link`, `web_url`.) |
| `description` | `string` | No | -- | Subtitle or help text (for list items). |
| `options` | `array` | No | -- | Options for `select` type. Each has `id`, `label`, `description`. |
| `inputType` | `string` | No | -- | Input type for `input` elements: `text`, `number`, `date`, `time`, `email`. |
| `placeholder` | `string` | No | -- | Placeholder text for `input` elements. |
| `required` | `boolean` | No | -- | Whether the input is required before submission. |

#### Select element example

```yaml theme={null}
ACTIONS:
  - id: select_account
    type: select
    label: "Choose Account"
    options:
      - id: checking
        label: "Checking ****4521"
        description: "Available: $12,340.50"
      - id: savings
        label: "Savings ****8872"
        description: "Available: $45,200.00"
```

#### Input element example

```yaml expandable=true theme={null}
ACTIONS:
  - id: amount_input
    type: input
    label: "Transfer Amount"
    inputType: number
    placeholder: "Enter amount"
    required: true

  - id: reference_input
    type: input
    label: "Reference (optional)"
    inputType: text
    placeholder: "Invoice number, memo, etc."
    required: false
  submitLabel: "Submit"
  submitId: "submit_transfer"
```

#### Form submission

When the `ACTIONS` block contains `input` elements, you can specify a `submitLabel` and `submitId` for the form submission button:

| Property | Type | Required | Default | Description |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| `submitLabel` | `string` | No | -- | Label for the form submit button. |
| `submitId` | `string` | No | -- | Action ID emitted when the form is submitted. |

#### ON\_ACTION handlers

Handle user interactions with action elements in flow steps:

```yaml expandable=true theme={null}
FLOW:
  review_wire:
    RESPOND: "Ready to proceed?"
    ACTIONS:
      - id: confirm
        type: button
        label: "Confirm"
      - id: cancel
        type: button
        label: "Cancel"
    ON_ACTION:
      confirm:
        DO:
          - SET: user_confirmed = true
          - RESPOND: "Executing your wire transfer."
            FORMATS:
              MARKDOWN: "**Executing your wire transfer.**"
          - GOTO: execute_wire_step
      cancel:
        RESPOND: "Wire transfer cancelled."
        GOTO: cleanup
```

The `ON_ACTION` handler properties are described below.

| Property | Type | Required | Default | Description |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| `ACTION_ID` | `string` | Yes | -- | Which action element triggered this handler. |
| `CONDITION` | `string` | No | -- | Optional condition based on the action value. |
| `DO` | ordered action list | No | -- | Preferred form when order or nested rich `FORMATS:` matters. |
| `RESPOND` | `string` | No | -- | Response message; supports nested `FORMATS:` inside a `DO` action. |
| `SET` | `Record<string,string>` | No | -- | Variable assignments. |
| `CLEAR` | `string[]` | No | -- | Session variables to clear. |
| `CALL` | `string` | No | -- | Tool call; use `AS result_key` to store the result. |
| `GOTO` / `TRANSITION` / `THEN` | `string` | No | -- | Flow step to transition to. |
| `HANDOFF` | `string` | No | -- | Declared handoff target agent. |
| `DELEGATE` | `string` | No | -- | Declared delegate target agent; supports nested `RETURN` and `ON_RETURN`. |
| `COMPLETE` | `boolean` | No | `true` | Complete the current flow. |

If a handler `RESPOND` includes rich `FORMATS:` before terminal routing, that payload is forwarded as the fallback final channel payload. The terminal target's own rich payload takes precedence.

#### Reusable handlers (`ACTION_HANDLERS:`)

`ON_ACTION` inside a flow step handles actions for that step only. To define **reusable** action handlers available across the whole agent, declare a top-level `ACTION_HANDLERS:` section. Each entry is keyed by the action element `id` and uses the same grammar as `ON_ACTION` (an optional `CONDITION`, shorthand `RESPOND`/`SET`/`TRANSITION`, or a canonical `DO:` block of ordered actions — `SET`, `CLEAR`, `LOG`, `RESPOND`, `CALL`, `GOTO`/`TRANSITION`/`THEN`, `HANDOFF`, `DELEGATE`, `COMPLETE`).

```yaml theme={null}
ACTION_HANDLERS:
  open_summary:
    DO:
      - SET: selected_action = "open_summary"
      - RESPOND: TEMPLATE(account_summary)
      - TRANSITION: display_summary

  contact_support:
    CONDITION: user.tier == "premium"
    DO:
      - RESPOND: "Connecting you to premium support."
      - HANDOFF: Support_Agent
```

### Templates

Templates are named, reusable response definitions declared in the `TEMPLATES:` block. They support `{{}}` interpolation and multi-format variants.

#### Syntax

```yaml expandable=true theme={null}
TEMPLATES:
  wire_confirmation:
    DEFAULT: |
      **Wire Confirmation -- {{confirmation_number}}**
      From: ****{{source_last4}} | To: {{beneficiary_name}}
      Amount: {{amount}} {{currency}} | Fees: {{fees}} | Total: {{total_debit}}
      Status: {{status}} | ETA: {{estimated_arrival}}
    MARKDOWN: |
      ## Wire Transfer Confirmation
      | Field | Value |
      |-------|-------|
      | Confirmation | {{confirmation_number}} |
      | Amount | {{amount}} {{currency}} |
      | Status | {{status}} |

  fee_breakdown:
    DEFAULT: |
      **Fee Breakdown for {{transfer_type}} wire**
      Wire fee: {{wire_fee}} {{currency}}
      {{#if intermediary_fee}}Intermediary fee: {{intermediary_fee}} {{currency}}{{/if}}
      **Total fees: {{total_fees}} {{currency}}**
```

#### Template properties

| Property | Type | Required | Default | Description |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| `name` | `string` | Yes | -- | Template name (the YAML key). Referenced via `TEMPLATE(name)`. |
| `DEFAULT` | `string` | Yes | -- | Default template body with `{{}}` interpolation. |
| `MARKDOWN` | `string` | No | -- | Markdown variant. |
| `ADAPTIVE_CARD` | `string` | No | -- | Adaptive Card JSON variant. |
| `ACTIONS` | `object` | No | -- | Interactive actions attached to this template. |
| `VOICE` | `object` | No | -- | Voice (TTS) overrides for this template. Same shape as [Voice configuration](#voice-configuration). |
| `RENDERABLES` | `object[]` | No | -- | Customer-owned structured payload contracts (`name`, `payload`, `targets`, `fallbackText`, `schemaRef`). |

#### Referencing templates

Use `TEMPLATE(name)` in any RESPOND value:

```yaml theme={null}
RESPOND: TEMPLATE(wire_confirmation)
```

#### Template interpolation

Template bodies use the same `{{variable_name}}` interpolation and `{{#if variable}}...{{/if}}` conditional-section syntax as any other ABL string — see [Template strings](/agent-platform/abl-reference/expressions-and-functions#template-strings) in Expressions and functions for the full syntax, including calling built-in functions inside `{{}}`.

```yaml theme={null}
DEFAULT: |
  Hello, {{customer_name}}.
  {{#if has_loyalty}}Your loyalty tier: {{loyalty_tier}}.{{/if}}
  How can I help you today?
```

### Channel selection

The runtime selects the response format based on the delivery channel.

| Channel | Priority format | Fallback |
| - | - | - |
| Web/SDK | `RICH_CONTENT` (Markdown, HTML, AG-UI) | Plain text |
| Mobile | `RICH_CONTENT` (Adaptive Card, Carousel) | Plain text |
| Voice | `VOICE` (SSML, instructions, plain\_text) | RESPOND text |
| Slack | `RICH_CONTENT` (SLACK) | Markdown |
| WhatsApp | `RICH_CONTENT` (WHATSAPP) | Plain text |

If the preferred format isn't available, the runtime falls back through the priority chain until it finds a defined format. Plain text (`RESPOND`) is always the final fallback.

***

**Related articles:**

* [Expressions and functions](/agent-platform/abl-reference/expressions-and-functions) -- operators, built-in functions, `{{}}` template-string syntax, and type coercion rules
* [Lifecycle and hooks](/agent-platform/abl-reference/lifecycle-and-hooks) -- ON\_START and hooks that support rich content
* [Multi-Agent and supervisor](/agent-platform/abl-reference/multi-agent-and-supervisor) -- COMPLETE conditions with rich responses
* [Data Types and utilities](/agent-platform/abl-reference/data-types-and-utilities) -- types used in rich content and template fields