List of Question Types

Last updated: 28 Oct 2024

The below table provides a high-level summary of each of the response types available to use in your XLSForm and formbuilder:

Question type	Icon	Answer input
integer		Integer (i.e., whole number) input.
decimal		Decimal input.
range		Range input (including rating).
text		Free text response.
select_one [options]		Multiple choice question; only one answer can be selected.
select_multiple [options]		Multiple choice question; multiple answers can be selected.
select_one_from_file [file]		Multiple choice from file; only one answer can be selected.
select_multiple_from_file [file]		Multiple choice from file; multiple answers can be selected.
rank [options]	n/a	Rank question; order a list.
note		Display a note on the screen, takes no input. Shorthand for type=text with readonly=true.
geopoint		Collect a single GPS coordinate.
geotrace		Record a line of two or more GPS coordinates.
geoshape		Record a polygon of multiple GPS coordinates; the last point is the same as the first point.
date		Date input.
time		Time input.
datetime		Accepts a date and a time input.
image		Take a picture or upload an image file.
audio		Take an audio recording or upload an audio file.
background-audio		Audio is recorded in the background while filling the form.
video		Take a video recording or upload a video file.
file		Generic file input (txt, pdf, xls, xlsx, doc, docx, rtf, zip)
barcode		Scan a barcode or QR Code
calculate		Perform a calculation; see the Calculation section below.
acknowledge		Acknowledge prompt that sets value to “OK” if selected.
hidden		A field with no associated UI element which can be used to store a constant.
xml-external		Adds a reference to an external XML data file.

For more information on the response types, please visit xlsform.org.

Additionally, KoboToolbox-specific types can also be used from within the formbuilder:

Formbuilder Question type	Icon	Answer input
Rating		Compare different items using a common scale.
Ranking		Compare a list of different objects to one another.
Question Matrix		Create a group of questions that display in a matrix format.

Calculate Questions are not displayed in your form, but are executed automatically as your form is being answered.

The Question Matrix Type is only supported in Enketo and with the Grid Theme set.