# Merge fields in the WYSIWYG editor

You can add merge fields, conditionals, and looping fields in the WYSIWYG editor.

A *merge field* is a variable in your message or template that you want to populate with a personalized value for each member of the audience. Merge fields use Handlebars syntax — `{{merge_field}}`. When you create a merge field, you set its *Field Logic*, which determines both how you use the field and the options you have when you use the field in a message: 

* *None* — Applies to **Text content** elements. When you send a message, Airship replaces your merge field with the appropriate value. This is considered a *standard* merge field.

* *Conditional* — Applies to **rows of content** in your message. When you send a message, Airship evaluates the condition and determines whether or not to insert a row of content, depending on if the *Key Path* is populated (true) or not (false).

* *Loop* — Applies to **rows of content** in your message. When you send a message, Airship evaluates the condition and determines whether or not to repeat a row of content for *each* item in an array, or display the content, depending on whether or not an array is populated. **Not supported for** [In-App Automation](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#iaa).

Merge fields, conditionals, and looping fields make it easier to take advantage of [Dynamic Content](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#dynamic_content). Merge fields are **not supported for** [Email Preference Centers](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#preference_center).

> **Tip:** You can also take advantage of looping (`#each`), conditional (`#if`), and other advanced [Handlebars](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#handlebars) within HTML content to show or repeat text. However, you cannot apply conditional or looping logic to block-level elements in your layout without adding merge fields to your layout.


<!--"block-level elements" ^^ ? -->
## Creating and editing merge fields

In the WYSIWYG editor:

![Editing a merge field](https://www.airship.com/docs/images/create-merge-field_hu_908c8a58d344fed4.webp)

*Editing a merge field*

1. Click **Merge fields**.

1. Click **Create field** to add a new field or 
 to edit an existing field.

1. Enter a **Field Name**. This is the friendly name for this merge field that you'll see in the editor.

1. Enter the **Key Path**. This is the path to the variable that you want to use.
   * For [Attributes](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#attributes), use the attribute name.
   * For [Custom Event](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#custom_event) properties, use JSON notation for the property in the event's `properties` object that you want to use. For example, if you wanted to access `properties.name` from your custom event, you would enter `name`.
   * For a [Create and Send](https://www.airship.com/docs/reference/glossary/#create_and_send) CSV, use the column name for your variable.

1. Select the merge **Field Logic**.

1. Click **Save**.

When you're done creating merge fields, click **Done 
** to return to the WYSIWYG editor.

## Using merge fields

The way you use a merge field depends on its logic: None, Conditional, or Loop.

![Using a standard merge field](https://www.airship.com/docs/images/insert-merge-field_hu_1659516f01cf042a.webp)

*Using a standard merge field*

You can insert merge fields with *Field Logic* set to *None* into any Text content element in the WYSIWYG editor. Airship adds your merge field with the correct syntax in your text.

1. Select the Text content element that you want to add a merge field to, and a toolbar will appear.

1. Click **Merge Tags** from the toolbar, and select a merge field.

---

Merge fields with *Field Logic* set to *Conditional* and *Loop* apply to a row. You use the merge field to determine whether you want to show, hide, or repeat the entire Text content element.

While conditions apply at the row level, you can still use merge fields within your conditional block. If you want to use a field both as a block-level condition and as a value within a block, you should save two merge fields: one to represent the conditional usage of the field, and one with *Field Logic* set to *None*.

When you apply a looping merge field to a content block, you can reference the current instance of the loop with the `this` context. For example, if looping through an array of products in your audience's shopping cart, you might reference the price for each product in the loop with `{{this.price}}`.

1. Select the row you want to apply conditional or looping logic to and click 
.
   ![Merge fields in the WYSIWYG editor](https://www.airship.com/docs/images/merge-tag_hu_6cef51c5d87a680d.webp)

1. ![Using a merge field with Looping logic](https://www.airship.com/docs/images/insert-conditional-merge_hu_3a6d8d7d4554b8ed.webp)

*Using a merge field with Looping logic*

Select the merge field that you want to apply, then select from the available options.
   
   For **conditional** merge fields:
   * *Show if condition is false* — Displays the block if the field does not exist, is empty, or is `null`.
   * *Show if condition is true* — Displays the block if the field exists and is not an empty string or `null` value.
   
   For **looping** merge fields:
   * *Repeat for each* — Repeats the block for each item in an array.
   * *Show if there are none* — Displays the block if the key path is empty or does not exist.
   * *Show if there are any* — Displays the block if the key path exists and has at least one item in the array.

1. Click **Select**.