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4. Survey question types

 Survey question types
=====================

Updated 2 hours ago · 3 min read

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When adding your survey questions, you have the option to select between different survey input types. When you click **+Add input**, a new **Input type** dropdown lets you pick the type before filling in the question, and you can change a question's input type at any time without deleting and rebuilding the question.

![The Input type dropdown open on a new survey question, listing the available question types such as Text short, Checkboxes and Radios.](https://engage.knowledge.civ.io/storage/bJSQcboulAR0OVH9U2H9p6Lmn3yIctfQodjLuzvS.png)

**Input type****Description**Text short

This is an open-ended survey question type, with a basic text field. This question type is suitable for short responses, and has a maximum character count of 255.Text long

This is an open-ended question type, allowing respondents to type their answer into a long text field where a large amount of text can be inputted.

Email

Validated email address field.Phone

Validated phone number field.URL

Validated website URL field.Checkboxes

Checkboxes are multiple choice questions, and allow respondents to check one or more predefined options, with an optional “Other“ choice that allows for a custom text input.Rank

A ranking question asks respondents to order a list of options by way of preference. Respondents can easily drag and drop the different options.

Radios

Radios are single response questions where respondents can select only one pre-defined option, with an optional “Other“ choice that allows for a custom text input.Media selectorMedia selector enables survey creators to add an interactive visual input where respondents can choose between single or multi-image selection, enabling feedback on visual scenarios. The labels given to each option can optionally be displayed to participants on the public page.Drop-down

A drop-down question is an easy way to display a long list of multiple choice answers without overwhelming your respondents. You provide the respondents a scrollable list of answers to choose from. Users can select multiple pre-defined options.

Likert scaleA Likert scale are “do you agree or “disagree questions in relation to a certain statement. The Likert scale gives the respondent a range of options to indicate their agreement or disagreement.Date and timeField where respondents enter a validated date and time.Date only

Field where respondents enter a validated date.Time

Field where respondents enter a validated time.Number input

Field where respondents can enter a validated numerical response such as postal codes, dollar values, age.Number slider

The number slider gives the respondent the chance to select a number within a range.

Rating

A rating question gives the ability to rate with stars, hearts, or thumbs up.Upload

An upload field provides the ability to upload one or more files.
By default the following file types are allowed: pdf, doc, docx, txt, xls, xlsx, rtf, png, gif, jpg, mp3, m4a. You can restrict a question to a smaller set, such as PDF only, using the allowed file types setting on the question.Image

An image field provides the ability to upload one or more images.
By default the following file types are allowed: png, gif, jpg, webp, svg, avif. You can restrict a question to a smaller set using the allowed file types setting on the question.

Rich Text

This field allows survey editors to freely add a block of text with rich text tools or an image in between the survey questions.Make a Checkbox question required
---------------------------------

Checkboxes don't use the standard **Answer required** toggle. Instead, click **Additional options** on the Checkbox question to open its **Advanced** group, then set **Minimum selection** to at least **1**.

![The Advanced options on a Checkbox question, with the Minimum selection field highlighted.](https://engage.knowledge.civ.io/storage/jnmtlrQZL0uREbsCkUzKw9jQ38nFWUL00myoUiQG.png)

Because a Checkbox question can offer many options, the minimum value also lets you control how many options a respondent must select. For example, if you have 5 checkboxes, setting the minimum to 4 means a respondent must tick any 4 of the 5 options.

For more guidance on when to use which question type, see [When to use which survey question type?](/articles/9183117053839-When-to-use-which-survey-question-type)

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