Survey question types | Civio Engage Knowledge Base [Skip to content](#main) [ ![Civio Engage Knowledge Base](/civio-light.svg) ](https://nginx.deploy-lagoon-production.civio-engage-docs.dh1.amazee.io) [Product documentation](/articles) [Release notes](/releases) [Roadmap](/roadmap) [ Support portal ](https://nginx.deploy-lagoon-production.civio-engage-docs.dh1.amazee.io/portal/login) Toggle navigation [Product documentation](/articles) [Release notes](/releases) [Roadmap](/roadmap) [Support portal](https://nginx.deploy-lagoon-production.civio-engage-docs.dh1.amazee.io/portal/login) 1. [Home](/) › 2. [Product documentation](/articles) › 3. [Participation tools](/articles?category=13) › 4. Survey question types Survey question types ===================== Updated 1 week ago · 6 min read Search Search 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.Add several options at once --------------------------- Radios, Checkboxes, Drop-down and Rank questions each have an **Options** list, and a Likert scale has one list for its statements and one for its responses. **+ Add option** adds a single row. To add many in one go, click **+ Add bulk options** beside it. On a Likert scale's statements, the buttons read **+ Add statement** and **+ Add bulk statements**. 1. Click **+ Add bulk options**. The **Bulk add options** window opens. 2. Type or paste your options, one on each line. Blank lines are skipped, and spaces at the start or end of a line are removed. 3. Click **+ Add options**. Each line becomes an option and the window closes. Click **Cancel** to close it without adding anything. ![The Bulk add options window open over a new Drop-down question, with four options typed one per line and the + Add options and Cancel buttons below.](https://engage.knowledge.civ.io/storage/swUIVdDf4MK4O2VvDhERRqpQVwF8X7163Zdlnc9u.png) New options are added below any you have already typed, and empty rows in the list are replaced. The same buttons appear anywhere you build a list of options, including [poll](/articles/9184031782799-Create-and-edit-poll) options, [custom user fields](/articles/custom-user-fields) and [custom fields for SRM records](/articles/custom-fields-for-srm-records). The Media selector has no bulk button, because each of its options needs an image. 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. Hide answers from the public site --------------------------------- Idea boards, Q&A boards and map feedback show each submission on your public site. If you add a question or field that collects something you do not want published, such as an email address or phone number, you can make it private. Its answers are then hidden from the public site, and your team still sees them in the dashboard. 1. Click the question to open it, then click **Additional options** to open its **Advanced** group. 2. Tick **Keep responses private**. 3. Click **Publish** as usual. ![A map feedback question open in the form builder, with its Additional options group expanded and the Keep responses private tickbox ticked and outlined.](https://engage.knowledge.civ.io/storage/D4ecPuOsvuySTYtSDpZVZSGgzK7BbtgHhby8cdC6.png) The question still appears on the public form, with **(Response kept private)** at the end of its help text so people know their answer will not be published. Its answers are hidden everywhere on the public site: the tool's page, the submission's own page, map popups and embeds. This includes submissions you have already received. Nobody sees the answers on the public site, not even administrators or the person who submitted them, and files uploaded to a private question cannot be downloaded from it. In the dashboard you still see every answer. On a submission's detail page, private answers have a lock icon and the note **Response kept private**. They are also included in exports and in submission handler emails. ![A map feedback submission in the dashboard, with a lock icon beside the Tell us more question and the note Response kept private above its answer.](https://engage.knowledge.civ.io/storage/XigePrVudE8nAN1IAtGGunSWwd2dwdSvPCeSyF3e.png) To make every question in a group private, tick **Keep responses private** on the group itself. The built-in fields on idea boards and Q&A boards cannot be made private. Surveys, polls and budgets do not show this option, because they do not publish individual submissions. 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) Was this article helpful? ------------------------- Your feedback helps us prioritise what to rewrite. 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