Variable Expressions

Variables let you personalise messages in your sequences and workflows using real data from your CRM. Instead of writing the same message for everyone, a variable inserts each contact's own details, such as their first name or company name, automatically.

Expression blocks go a step further. They let you transform or combine variables using logic, so you can format text, do math, work with dates, parse phone numbers, and more before the value appears in your message.

Everything is built from two pieces: variables and expression blocks.

The two building blocks

Variables

A variable pulls in a value directly from your data using double curly braces.

{{currentPerson.firstName}}
{{currentPerson.company.name}}
{{currentSender.email.firstName}}

Expression blocks

An expression block lets you transform or combine variables using logic. It is wrapped in a {% %} block, and any variables inside it still use the same {{ }} syntax:

{% ... your logic here ... %}

For example, this makes a contact's first name uppercase:

{% {{currentPerson.firstName}}.toUpperCase() %}

Text manipulation

Text expressions let you reshape a value before it appears in your message, such as changing capitalisation, trimming spaces, or pulling out part of a string.

What you want	Expression
First name only (from full name)	{% {{currentPerson.name}}.split(' ')[0] %}
All caps	{% {{currentPerson.firstName}}.toUpperCase() %}
All lowercase	{% {{currentPerson.firstName}}.toLowerCase() %}
Remove extra spaces	{% {{currentPerson.firstName}}.trim() %}
First N characters	{% {{currentPerson.firstName}}.slice(0, 3) %}
Combine first and last name	{% {{currentPerson.firstName}} + ' ' + {{currentPerson.lastName}} %}
Email domain only	{% {{currentPerson.email}}.split('@')[1] %}
Replace a word	{% {{currentPerson.bio}}.replace('Manager', 'Leader') %}

Numbers and math

Math expressions let you calculate values as the message is built, which is useful for converting stored amounts, applying multipliers, or rounding figures for display.

What you want	Expression
Divide (e.g. convert micros to dollars)	{% {{deal.amountMicros}} / 1000000 %}
Multiply	{% {{deal.amount}} * 1.2 %}
Round to nearest whole number	{% Math.round({{deal.amount}}) %}
Round down	{% Math.floor({{deal.amount}}) %}
Round up	{% Math.ceil({{deal.amount}}) %}
Show 2 decimal places	{% {{deal.amount}}.toFixed(2) %}
Larger of two values	{% Math.max({{deal.amount}}, {{deal.minAmount}}) %}

Conditional logic

Conditional expressions let a message change depending on the data. They use a ternary, which reads as condition ? value if true : value if false.

What you want	Expression
Fallback if empty	{% {{currentPerson.phone}} || 'N/A' %}
Label based on a value	{% {{currentPerson.age}} >= 18 ? 'Adult' : 'Minor' %}
Multiple conditions	{% {{deal.stage}} === 'Won' ? 'Closed' : {{deal.stage}} === 'Lost' ? 'Dead' : 'Active' %}
Use another variable as fallback	{% {{currentPerson.nickname}} || {{currentPerson.firstName}} %}

Dates

Date expressions let you insert the current date, read the year or month, or format a date stored on a record.

What you want	Expression
Today's date (ISO format)	{% new Date().toISOString().slice(0, 10) %}
Current year	{% new Date().getFullYear() %}
Current month (1 to 12)	{% new Date().getMonth() + 1 %}
Format a stored date field	{% new Date({{deal.closedAt}}).toLocaleDateString() %}
Days since a date	{% Math.floor((Date.now() - new Date({{person.createdAt}})) / 86400000) %}
Check if a date is in the past	{% new Date({{deal.dueAt}}) < new Date() ? 'Overdue' : 'On track' %}

Arrays

Some fields, such as webhook payloads, contain a list of items rather than a single value. Array expressions let you pull out a specific item or combine several of them. You can use dot notation or bracket notation to access array elements.

What you want	Expression
First item in an array	{{trigger.payload.attendees.0.name}}
Second item	{{trigger.payload.attendees.1.email}}
First item via bracket notation	{{trigger.payload.attendees[0].name}}
Last item (dynamic)	{% {{trigger.payload.attendees}}[{{trigger.payload.attendees}}.length - 1].name %}
All names joined	{% {{trigger.payload.attendees}}.map(a => a.name).join(', ') %}
Find item by condition	{% {{trigger.payload.attendees}}.find(a => a.noShow)?.email %}

Phone numbers

Phone expressions let you break a phone number into its separate parts. Use parsePhoneNumber(value), which returns null when the number is invalid, so pair it with ?. to avoid errors.

What you want	Expression
Calling code only (e.g. 91)	{% parsePhoneNumber({{person.phone}})?.countryCallingCode %}
National number only (no code)	{% parsePhoneNumber({{person.phone}})?.nationalNumber %}
Full international format	{% parsePhoneNumber({{person.phone}})?.formatInternational() %}
Calling code with + prefix	{% '+' + parsePhoneNumber({{person.phone}})?.countryCallingCode %}
Check if number is valid	{% parsePhoneNumber({{person.phone}})?.isValid() ? 'Valid' : 'Invalid' %}
Fallback if unparseable	{% parsePhoneNumber({{person.phone}})?.nationalNumber || {{person.phone}} %}

Regular expressions

Regular expressions let you match or extract a pattern inside a value, such as the text before the @ in an email address.

What you want	Expression
Extract text before @ in an email	{% {{currentPerson.email}}.match(/(.+)@/)[1] %}
Remove all spaces	{% {{currentPerson.phone}}.replace(/\s+/g, '') %}
Check if value matches a pattern	{% /^\+\d+/.test({{currentPerson.phone}}) ? 'International' : 'Local' %}

Using expressions inside a message

Expression blocks can be placed anywhere in your message body or subject line, alongside regular text and variables. Dalil evaluates each block when the message is sent and replaces it with the result.

Hi {% {{currentPerson.firstName}}.split(' ')[0] %},

I noticed {{currentPerson.company.name}} has been growing fast.
Your deal value is ${% {{deal.amountMicros}} / 1000000 %}.

Looking forward to connecting!

What is not allowed

To keep your workspace secure, the following are blocked inside an expression:

• Running system commands or accessing files
• Making network requests
• Accessing internal server or environment data