> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.usefusion.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Onboarding Questions

> Add screening questions to collect eligibility data and baseline information before participants join.

Onboarding questions are pre-join screening questions shown to participants after the [full-text overview](/onboarding/full-text-overview) (if configured). Use them for eligibility screening, demographic collection, and baseline data.

## Question Fields

Each onboarding question has:

| Field               | Required?                | Description                                                                  |
| ------------------- | ------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Question text**   | ✅ Yes                    | The question shown to the participant                                        |
| **Response type**   | ✅ Yes                    | How participants answer (see table below)                                    |
| **Options**         | For `customOptions` only | Array of option strings                                                      |
| **Required**        | —                        | Whether the question must be answered (defaults to `true` for new questions) |
| **Validation rule** | Optional                 | A [question guard](/onboarding/question-guards) for eligibility screening    |

## Response Types

Onboarding questions support the same 5 response types as prompts:

| Response Type   | UI Rendering                    | Notes            |
| --------------- | ------------------------------- | ---------------- |
| `text`          | Text input field                | Free-form answer |
| `yesno`         | Two radio buttons: "Yes" / "No" | Binary choice    |
| `number`        | Numeric input field             | Numeric answer   |
| `numberRange`   | Numeric input with bounds       | Bounded numeric  |
| `customOptions` | Radio buttons **or** checkboxes | See below        |

### Custom Options Rendering

The rendering of `customOptions` depends on whether a [question guard](/onboarding/question-guards) is set:

* If the guard uses `in` or `not_in` → **checkboxes** (multi-select), answer stored as comma-separated values
* Otherwise → **radio buttons** (single-select)

<Warning>
  Options in onboarding questions are entered as **comma-separated** values (e.g., `Student, Professional, Retired, Other`). This is different from prompt custom options, which use **semicolons**.
</Warning>

## Adding Questions

1. Open your quest in the editor
2. Navigate to the onboarding section
3. Click **Add Question**
4. Enter the question text
5. Select a response type
6. If using `customOptions`, enter the options
7. Optionally toggle **Required** (on by default)
8. Optionally add a [validation rule (question guard)](/onboarding/question-guards)

## Validation

**Client-side**: All required questions must have a non-empty, trimmed answer before the form can be submitted.

**Server-side**: If any question has a [question guard](/onboarding/question-guards), the answers are validated server-side. Failed validations show rejection messages and block the participant from joining.

## Data Storage

* Onboarding responses are saved as a dataset with type `onboarding_responses`
* Source is tagged as `web` or `mobile` depending on where the participant completed onboarding
* Onboarding responses are **free** — they are not billed

<Info>
  Onboarding responses are submitted **before** the participant joins the quest. This is different from prompt responses, which are submitted after joining.
</Info>

## Example

A typical eligibility screening setup:

| Question                                   | Type                                              | Guard                          |
| ------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------ |
| "How old are you?"                         | `number`                                          | Must be ≥ 18                   |
| "Do you consent to participate?"           | `yesno`                                           | Must equal "Yes"               |
| "What is your primary language?"           | `customOptions` (English, Spanish, French, Other) | Must be "English" or "Spanish" |
| "Describe any relevant medical conditions" | `text`                                            | None (informational only)      |