Variables Overview

Using Smarty variables, you are able to render personalized content in a message. This content is pulled from data objects stored either within Cordial or available externally.

When you are using Smarty to render message content, you will have access to specific data objects, some of the values of which are exposed as variables. Available objects include:

• Contact - contains data related to a contact.
• Message - contains data related to a message.
• Account - contains data related to the account.

When writing Smarty, the object names are appended with the name of the variable key in order to render the correct value from the data object.

For example, if you created a key called "first" within the contact object it would be referenced as:

{$contact.first}

{$contact = 'moose'}

Variables are related to data values based on their key name within their respective object. Some key names are reserved by the system and some are created by the user.

Examples of reserved variables in Cordial that you can render in a message:

• System Variables
• Account Variables
• Product Variables
• Order Variables

Examples of variables created by the user that you can render in a message:

• Contact Attributes (including lists)
• Event Variables
• Supplement Variables
• External Variables (used for API sending)

Smarty variables that are used in a message will be replaced by the stored data values and shown when a message is rendered either at send time or in a message preview.

An example of Smarty syntax for a simple variable replacement:

Notice the name of the variable (first) is prepended with the object name (contact).

In the next article learn about system variables.