Setting Defaults in ConvertKit

Learn how to use Liquid's default filter and other techniques to handle missing or undefined values gracefully

Defaults are a powerful way to ensure your emails and forms always have consistent values, even when certain data is missing. This guide will show you how to use Liquid's default filter and other techniques to handle missing or undefined values gracefully.

Why Use Defaults?

Using defaults helps you:

Prevent errors when data is missing
Maintain consistent formatting
Provide fallback content
Improve the user experience
Handle edge cases gracefully

Basic Default Syntax

The most common way to set defaults is using the default filter:

{{ variable | default: "fallback value" }}

Common Use Cases

1. Subscriber Information

Hi {{ subscriber.first_name | default: "there" }},
 
Welcome to {{ site.name | default: "our community" }}!

2. Custom Fields

{% assign location = subscriber.custom_fields.location | default: "unknown" %}
Your nearest store is in {{ location }}.

3. Form Fields

{% assign interest = form.interest | default: "general" %}
We'll send you content about {{ interest }}.

Advanced Default Techniques

1. Nested Defaults

{{ subscriber.custom_fields.preferred_language | default: subscriber.language | default: "en" }}

2. Conditional Defaults

{% if subscriber.tags contains "premium" %}
  {{ subscriber.custom_fields.premium_level | default: "basic" }}
{% else %}
  {{ subscriber.custom_fields.free_level | default: "starter" }}
{% endif %}

3. Multiple Fallbacks

{% assign product_name = product.name | default: product.title | default: "Featured Product" %}

Best Practices

Be Specific: Use meaningful default values that make sense in context
Keep it Simple: Don't overcomplicate your default chains
Test Edge Cases: Verify your defaults work with missing data
Document Defaults: Keep track of what defaults you're using where
Consider UX: Choose defaults that provide a good user experience

Examples

Email Personalization

Dear {{ subscriber.first_name | default: "valued subscriber" }},
 
Thank you for your interest in {{ product.name | default: "our products" }}.
Your order number is {{ order.number | default: "pending" }}.

Form Handling

{% assign source = form.source | default: "website" %}
{% assign campaign = form.campaign | default: "general" %}
 
You signed up through {{ source }} as part of our {{ campaign }} campaign.

Content Display

{% assign featured_image = post.featured_image | default: "/images/default.jpg" %}
{% assign excerpt = post.excerpt | default: post.content | truncate: 200 %}
 
<img src="{{ featured_image }}" alt="{{ post.title | default: 'Featured post' }}">
<p>{{ excerpt }}</p>

Troubleshooting

Common issues and solutions:

Defaults Not Working
- Check for typos in variable names
- Verify the default value is properly formatted
- Ensure the variable exists in the context
Unexpected Results
- Test with different data scenarios
- Check the order of your default chains
- Verify data types match expectations
Performance Issues
- Avoid overly complex default chains
- Cache frequently used default values
- Use appropriate data types

Setting Defaults in ConvertKit

Why Use Defaults?

Basic Default Syntax

Common Use Cases

1. Subscriber Information

2. Custom Fields

3. Form Fields

Advanced Default Techniques

1. Nested Defaults

2. Conditional Defaults

3. Multiple Fallbacks

Best Practices

Examples

Email Personalization

Form Handling

Content Display

Troubleshooting

Next Steps

On this page

Give Your Visitors
the Proof They Need

Setting Defaults in ConvertKit

On this page

Give Your Visitorsthe Proof They Need

Give Your Visitors
the Proof They Need