Smart answer

Simple smart answer

A simple smart answer are simple in nature and is can be built and managed by publishers.

How it works

A simple smart answer presents the end-user a series of questions that channels them to a certain outcome based on their responses.

Simple smart answers are built and edited in Mainstream Publisher.

We use this format if the tool doesn’t need any complicated variables or calculations.

You don’t need a developer to make changes to a simple smart answer. They’re built and edited in Mainstream Publisher, so they follow the same workflow as any other piece of mainstream content.

Live examples

• Tell DVLA you’ve sold, transferred or bought a vehicle
• Contact UK Visas and Immigration for help
• Contact DVLA

Complete list of examples available and page data on Content Data.

How it’s built

These are the underlying technologies that make-up the simple smart answer front template.

Content schema

simple_smart_answer

What is a content schema?

A GOV.UK content schema is a JSON schema that defines the data structure of a piece of content. It determines what content and metadata attributes the page has.

Content type

simple_smart_answer

What is a content type?

Content type describes the types of pages that exist on GOV.UK. It’s stored in the content item (JSON) as document_type. It powers search filters in all finders and changes the content type label users see on GOV.UK pages.

Publishing app

mainstream-publisher

What is a publishing app?

Publishing apps are used by publishers across government departments to publish content to GOV.UK.

Rendering app

frontend

What is a rendering app?

Rendering apps render content to GOV.UK end-users.

Components

The components used within the simple smart answer frontend template

Component	Source	Publishing app input field(s)
Layout super navigation header	Autogenerated in frontend template
Contextual breadcrumbs	Autogenerated in frontend template	Tagging > Breadcrumb
Page title	Customized by publisher	Title
Govspeak content	Customized by publisher	Body
Button	Customized by publisher	Start button text
Title for each question is using Form radio button with page heading and caption component	Customized by publisher	Question[i] > Title
Govspeak content is used to provide extra information for each question in the smart answer	Customized by publisher	Question[i] > Optional extra information
Related navigation when displayed within contextual footer	Customized by publisher	Tagging > Mainstream browse pages
Related navigation when displayed within contextual sidebar	Customized by publisher	Tagging > Related content items
Feedback	Autogenerated in frontend template
Layout footer	Autogenerated in frontend template
Form radio button can be used in order for end-user to provide their respone	Customized by publisher	Question[i] > Answer[i]
Summary list can be used in order for end-user to provide their respone	Autogenerated in frontend template
Error summary appears whenever a required field is not entered or the incorrect information is entered by the end-user	Autogenerated in frontend template
Step by step navigation when displayed within contextual sidebar	Customized by publisher	collections-publisher > Where to show this step by step > Sidebar settings > Sidebar content of page

How to report an issue

If you happen to come across an issue:

1. Report it on Github (opens in a new tab).
2. Once the issue has been added, update this document by adding the title and Github Issue's link.
3. Give yourself a high-five.

Help improve this frontend template

To help make sure that this page is useful, relevant and up to date, submit a GitHub issue (opens in a new tab) with your proposed updates.