# Filler

> Plays a short “one moment…” so the caller isn’t left in silence while a slow step works.

Source: https://voxio.in/docs/steps-filler · voxioagent 2.0.0 · Index: https://voxio.in/docs/llms.txt

Type: `random-speak-out`.

## What it does

1. Rolls a chance from `variance`: at `1` it always speaks, at `0.5` about half the time, at `0` never.
2. If it speaks, picks one of `phrases` at random and says it.

Start a Filler side by side with the slow step (list both in the previous step's `next`), not before it, or the caller waits for the filler too.

## Settings

Everything goes in the step's `parameters`. In the editor, click the step to open its settings.

- `phrases` (string[]): In the editor: **Phrases**. One is picked at random each time. Default: `["One moment…","Let me check that."]`.
- `variance` (number): In the editor: **Chance to speak** (More tab). How often it says anything, from 0 (never) to 1 (every time). 0.5 speaks about half the time. Default: `1`.

## Examples

### Cover a slow lookup

Start it beside a slow step so the caller hears something straight away:

```json
{
  "type": "random-speak-out",
  "parameters": {
    "phrases": [
      "One moment…",
      "Let me check that.",
      "Sure, just a second."
    ],
    "variance": 0.8
  }
}
```

## Next steps

- [Steps](https://voxio.in/docs/steps.md): all the other steps.
- [Patterns](https://voxio.in/docs/workflows-patterns.md): see it in a full workflow.