# Context

## Explanation

### **What is Context?**

Contexts represent the current context of a user's request. When you're talking to a friend or to the assistant you do not have to repeat the context many times, but you can save it and re-use it for a certain life span.

**Bad example:**

What time is it **in Spain**?

What is the weather like **in Spain**?

Will in rain in **Spain**?

**Good Example:**

**Amanda:** Hey Eliza, I really enjoyed the **stroopwafels**.

**Eliza:** I am glad you liked **them**.

**Amanda:** Can you bring some more of **them** to the **WTM Summit**, please?

**Eliza:** Right, I will bring some more for you  **there**.

### **Lifespan**

It is the quantity of messages exchanged between the two participants, linking the intents.

The contexts expire after a while, to be more precise, contexts in intents expire after either five requests or 20 minutes from the time they were activated. On the other hand, contexts in [Follow-up intents](https://dialogflow.com/docs/intents#follow_up_intents) have a default lifespan of two requests.

But you can change the default setting by clicking in the current number that represents the life span.

### **Output Contexts**

The output context is the one that the intent **passes on** to the external environment.

### **Input Contexts**

The input context refers to the context the intent **receives** from the external environment.

### Extracting Parameter Values from Contexts <a href="#extracting_parameter_values_from_contexts" id="extracting_parameter_values_from_contexts"></a>

You can use the following syntax:&#x20;

`#context_name.parameter_name`

`#some-context.some-argument`

`#search-followup.get_name`

`#search-followup.get_location`

`#search-followup.get_name`