Question Types
SurveyReflex offers 23 different question types to collect any kind of data. This guide explains each type and when to use it.
Question Type Categories
Questions are organized into categories:
- Choice - Multiple choice, selection, ranking, and consent questions
- Text - Open-ended text responses
- Rating & Scale - Stars, numeric ratings, opinion scales, and NPS
- Date & Time - Date and time pickers
- Contact - Email, phone, URL inputs
- Matrix - Grid/table questions
- Display - Non-question content blocks
Choice Questions
Multiple Choice - Single Select
Respondents choose one option from a list.
Best for:
- Gender, age range questions
- Preference selections
- Single-answer questions
Features:
- Radio button interface
- Optional “Other” option
- Randomize option order
Multiple Choice - Multiple Select
Respondents can choose multiple options from a list.
Best for:
- “Select all that apply” questions
- Interest/feature selections
- Multiple preference questions
Features:
- Checkbox interface
- Optional “Other” option
- Min/max selections (optional)
Yes/No
Simple binary choice question.
Best for:
- Confirmation questions
- Simple yes/no decisions
- Filtering questions
Features:
- Clean two-button interface
- Clear visual distinction
Dropdown
Respondents select one option from a dropdown menu.
Best for:
- Long lists of options
- Country/state selection
- Saving screen space
Features:
- Compact dropdown interface
- Search within options
- Good for many choices
Ranking
Respondents order a list of items by preference — drag items into place, or use the up/down arrows.
Best for:
- Prioritizing features or ideas
- Preference ordering (“rank these from most to least important”)
- Comparing a small set of items
Features:
- Drag-and-drop reordering (works on touch devices)
- Up/down arrow buttons for keyboard and accessibility
- Optional randomized starting order to avoid position bias
- Analytics show the average rank per item
Consent
A legal or consent statement with an “I accept” checkbox.
Best for:
- Privacy policy or terms acceptance
- Research consent before a survey begins
- Marketing opt-ins
Features:
- Scrollable statement box for longer legal text
- Customizable checkbox label (default “I accept”)
- When marked required, respondents must accept to submit
- When optional, declining is recorded as “Declined”
Text Questions
Short Text
Single-line text input for brief responses.
Best for:
- Names
- Short answers
- Single words or phrases
Features:
- Single line input
- Character limit (optional)
- Placeholder text
Long Text
Multi-line text area for detailed responses.
Best for:
- Open-ended feedback
- Detailed explanations
- Comments and suggestions
Features:
- Expandable text area
- Character limit (optional)
- Placeholder text
Rating Questions
Rating - Stars
Five-star rating scale.
Best for:
- Satisfaction ratings
- Quality ratings
- Review-style feedback
Features:
- Interactive star icons
- 1-5 scale
- Visual and intuitive
Rating - Numeric
Numeric scale rating (e.g., 1-10).
Best for:
- Likelihood ratings
- Scaled responses
- Quick numeric feedback
Features:
- Customizable scale
- Number buttons
- Clear endpoints
For Net Promoter Score surveys, use the dedicated NPS question type — it computes your NPS automatically.
Opinion Scale
A slider for picking a value on a numeric scale.
Best for:
- Agreement scales (“strongly disagree” to “strongly agree”)
- Effort or difficulty ratings
- Any continuous-feeling scale
Features:
- Configurable minimum, maximum, and step
- Custom labels for both ends of the scale
- Live value display while sliding (can be turned off)
- Works with conditional logic (e.g., “if answer is less than 5”)
Net Promoter Score (NPS)
The standard “How likely are you to recommend us?” question on a fixed 0-10 scale.
Best for:
- Measuring customer loyalty
- Tracking satisfaction over time
- Benchmarking against industry NPS standards
Features:
- Fixed 0-10 scale with customizable end labels
- Your NPS is computed automatically in analytics: promoters (9-10), passives (7-8), and detractors (0-6), with score = % promoters − % detractors
- Analytics show the score, a promoter/passive/detractor breakdown, and the full 0-10 distribution
- Pairs well with an AI follow-up to ask why respondents gave their score
- Works with conditional logic (e.g., jump detractors to a feedback question)
Not sure what a good score looks like? Try the free NPS calculator.
Date & Time Questions
Date Picker
Calendar-based date selection.
Best for:
- Birth dates
- Event dates
- Scheduling
Features:
- Calendar interface
- Date validation
- Format options
Time Picker
Time selection input.
Best for:
- Preferred contact times
- Event timing
- Scheduling
Features:
- Hour and minute selection
- 12/24 hour format
DateTime Picker
Combined date and time selection.
Best for:
- Appointment scheduling
- Event timestamps
- Specific datetime selection
Features:
- Calendar + time picker
- Full datetime value
Contact Information
Email Input
Email address with validation.
Best for:
- Contact information
- Follow-up communication
- Account creation
Features:
- Email format validation
- Auto-keyboard on mobile
- Clear error messages
Phone Input
Phone number with validation.
Best for:
- Contact numbers
- SMS communication
- Verification
Features:
- Phone format validation
- Customizable patterns
- International support
Number Input
Numeric value input.
Best for:
- Quantities
- Ages
- Numeric data
Features:
- Number-only input
- Min/max validation
- Number keyboard on mobile
URL Input
Website URL with validation.
Best for:
- Website links
- Social media profiles
- Portfolio links
Features:
- URL format validation
- Protocol handling
- Link validation
Matrix Questions
Matrix - Single Select
Grid with single selection per row.
Best for:
- Rating multiple items
- Comparing features
- Likert scales
Features:
- Rows (items) and columns (scale)
- One selection per row
- Efficient for multiple related items
Matrix - Multiple Select
Grid with multiple selections per row.
Best for:
- Multiple attributes per item
- Complex comparisons
- Feature mappings
Features:
- Rows and columns
- Multiple selections per row
- Checkbox interface
Display Elements
Section Header
Visual divider with title.
Best for:
- Organizing survey sections
- Breaking up long surveys
- Introducing new topics
Features:
- Section title
- Optional description
- No response collected
Plain Text Block
Informational text display.
Best for:
- Instructions
- Information sharing
- Context setting
Features:
- Rich text support
- No response collected
- Flexible content
Question Type Summary
| Type | Input | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Choice (Single) | Radio buttons | Single selection |
| Multiple Choice (Multiple) | Checkboxes | Multi-selection |
| Yes/No | Two buttons | Binary choice |
| Dropdown | Select menu | Long option lists |
| Ranking | Drag-to-order list | Prioritizing items |
| Consent | Statement + checkbox | Legal acceptance |
| Short Text | Text input | Brief responses |
| Long Text | Text area | Detailed responses |
| Rating - Stars | 5 stars | Satisfaction |
| Rating - Numeric | Number scale | Likelihood, scaled feedback |
| Opinion Scale | Slider | Agreement, effort scales |
| NPS | Fixed 0-10 buttons | Net Promoter Score |
| Date Picker | Calendar | Dates |
| Time Picker | Time select | Times |
| DateTime Picker | Both | Full timestamps |
| Email input | Contact email | |
| Phone | Phone input | Contact phone |
| Number | Number input | Quantities |
| URL | URL input | Links |
| Matrix (Single) | Grid + radio | Multiple ratings |
| Matrix (Multiple) | Grid + checkbox | Complex ratings |
| Section Header | Display only | Organization |
| Plain Text | Display only | Information |