> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL.
> For a complete documentation index, see https://docs.meetgail.com/platform/workflows/core-concepts/expressions/llms.txt.
> For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://docs.meetgail.com/_mcp/server.

# Expressions

> Build text and compute values on the fly from the data your steps produce.

Most of the time a step's setting is a fixed value you type in. But workflows get
powerful when a setting can change based on the data flowing through a run: an
email that greets each customer by name, a condition that checks a score, a URL
built from a contact's ID. Expressions are how you do that.

There are two kinds, and they work well together.

## String templates

A string template builds a piece of text with values dropped into it, using
`{{ }}` markers. Reach for a template whenever you are composing text such as an
email body, a message, or a URL:

```text
Hi {{node.contact.first_name}}, your renewal is due on {{node.policy.due_date}}.
```

See [String Templates](/platform/workflows/core-concepts/expressions/string-templates).

## Expressions that compute values

When you need to calculate or compare, rather than assemble text, you write an
expression. Expressions handle arithmetic, comparisons, yes/no logic, and picking
between options:

```text
node.quote.premium * 1.08
node.score.value >= 80 ? "APPROVED" : "NEEDS_REVIEW"
```

See [Expressions](/platform/workflows/core-concepts/expressions/using-expressions-in-nodes).

## Explore

#### [String Templates](/platform/workflows/core-concepts/expressions/string-templates)

Compose text with values dropped in, and repeat text for every item in a list.

#### [Expressions](/platform/workflows/core-concepts/expressions/using-expressions-in-nodes)

Calculate, compare, and choose between values.

#### [Function Reference](/platform/workflows/core-concepts/expressions/function-reference)

The functions you can call inside an expression.

> Documentation for Gail, the AI platform for financial services. Learn how to set up GailGPT and Gail Agent to automate customer communications for insurance, banking, and finance.

## Docs

- [String Templates](https://docs.meetgail.com/platform/workflows/core-concepts/expressions/string-templates.md): Compose text with live values dropped in, and repeat text for every item in a list.
- [Using Expressions in Nodes](https://docs.meetgail.com/platform/workflows/core-concepts/expressions/using-expressions-in-nodes.md): Calculate, compare, and choose between values using CEL, the expression language behind workflows.
- [Function Reference](https://docs.meetgail.com/platform/workflows/core-concepts/expressions/function-reference.md): The functions you can call inside an expression, from text checks to phone-number formatting.