# Interruptions

> Choose, per speaking step, whether the caller can cut the agent off, and when.

Source: https://voxio.in/docs/turn-taking-interruptions · voxioagent 2.0.0 · Index: https://voxio.in/docs/llms.txt

Every step that speaks (Say, AI reply) has its own `interruption_type`, so a disclaimer can be protected while normal chat stays interruptible. An AI reply can also choose it per reply by returning` interruption_type`.

## Types

| interruption_type | Behaviour |
| --- | --- |
| `full` | **Stop and listen**. The agent stops as soon as the caller starts talking. |
| `no` | **Always finish**. The agent never stops mid-reply. Good for legal lines and key details. |
| `duration` | **Only at the start**. The caller can cut in during the first few seconds; after that the agent finishes. |
| `inverse_duration` | **Only after a few seconds**. The opening of every reply is protected; after that the caller can cut in. |
| `word_length` | **Only on short replies**. Short replies can be interrupted; longer ones are always finished. |
| `inverse_word_length` | **Only on long replies**. Short replies are always finished; the caller can cut into longer ones. |

## The numbers

- `duration` (number (seconds)): For `duration` and `inverse_duration`: the cut-off, counted from when the agent starts speaking.
- `length` (number (words)): For `word_length` and `inverse_word_length`: replies shorter (or longer) than this many words can be interrupted.
- `ignore-words` (string[]): Words that never count as interrupting, such as `hmm`, `okay`, `haan`. A space-separated string works too.

Once the agent has finished speaking, the caller can always talk; these rules only apply while it's speaking.

## Example

Protect the first three seconds of a reply, and ignore back-channel words:

```json
"parameters": {
  "out_dict": { "speak": "This call may be recorded for quality and training." },
  "interruption_type": "inverse_duration",
  "interruption_metadata": { "duration": 3, "ignore-words": ["hmm", "okay", "haan"] }
}
```

## Next steps

- [Turn-taking](https://voxio.in/docs/turn-taking.md): reply timing.