***

id: a9dd1c03-0b27-4aab-98ab-4d9230d38484
slug: /reference
description: Overview of SWML methods.
title: Methods overview
sidebar-title: Overview
position: 0
max-toc-depth: 3
----------------

Methods in SWML control the program flow and execute functions.
This includes setting and unsetting variables, conditional statements,
making calls, and sending faxes etc.

## The `ai` method

The [`ai`](/docs/swml/reference/ai) method is an incredibly powerful tool to instantiate an AI agent
that holds a natural conversation with the caller, and perform actions based on their input.

## Control-flow methods

### `execute` and `return`

The [`execute`](/docs/swml/reference/execute) method is similar to a function call in most languages. It can be sent parameters,
and it can return values using the [`return`](/docs/swml/reference/return) object. The SWML function to be executed can
exist as a subsection in the same SWML document, but it can also be a separate SWML document hosted on
an internet-accessible web-server.

### `transfer`

The [`transfer`](/docs/swml/reference/transfer) statement transfers the execution to a different section or
a different SWML document. Unlike the `execute` statement, the `transfer` statement doesn't return
back to the calling section.

### `goto` and `label`

The [`goto`](/docs/swml/reference/goto) statement can jump to a specified [`label`](/docs/swml/reference/label) either depending on a
given condition or unconditionally, and repeatedly for a specified number of repetitions.

### `cond` and `switch`

The [`cond`](/docs/swml/reference/cond) statement is a general purpose conditional branching statement that
executes SWML code based on the evaluation of a JavaScript expression.

The [`switch`](/docs/swml/reference/switch) statement allows switch-case like conditional execution depending on whether a certain variable is
a certain value.

## Call related methods

### `answer` and `hangup`

Use these methods to decide when to [`answer`](/docs/swml/reference/answer) the call
and when to [`hangup`](/docs/swml/reference/hangup). Some other methods (like [`play`](/docs/swml/reference/play))
will automatically answer calls, but you can use these methods to be more
specific about when it happens.

### `denoise` and `stop_denoise`

The [`denoise`](/docs/swml/reference/denoise) method starts the noise reduction filter and the
[`stop_denoise`](/docs/swml/reference/stop-denoise) method stops it.

### `live_transcribe`

The [`live_transcribe`](/docs/swml/reference/live-transcribe) method starts a live transcription of the call.

### `live_translate`

The [`live_translate`](/docs/swml/reference/live-translate) method starts a live translation of the call.

### `play` and `prompt`

The [`play`](/docs/swml/reference/play) method can be used to send TTS speech, play audio files, send different rings etc.
The [`prompt`](/docs/swml/reference/prompt) method also plays TTS or URLs like `play` but it can receive
keypad or speech input in response.

### `connect`

Use the [`connect`](/docs/swml/reference/connect) method to connect the caller to other phone or SIP calls.
You can set it up to dial multiple numbers in series, parallel or a combination of the two.

### `enter_queue`

The [`enter_queue`](/docs/swml/reference/enter-queue) method places the call in a queue where it will wait
until an agent or resource becomes available. You can configure wait music, timeout settings, and
status callbacks to manage the queue experience.

### `join_room`

The [`join_room`](/docs/swml/reference/join-room) method seamlessly connects your call to a
[video room](/docs/platform/video), enabling participants to
join from various sources, including mobile apps, web browsers, or phone calls.

### `receive_fax`

The [`receive_fax`](/docs/swml/reference/receive-fax) method will interpret the call as a fax and process it.

### `record`, `record_call` and `stop_record_call`

The [`record`](/docs/swml/reference/record) and the [`record_call`](/docs/swml/reference/record-call) methods will record
the call. The `record` method, however, waits for the recording to terminate before continuing
execution. The [`record_call`](/docs/swml/reference/record-call) method starts a call recording in the
background, and it stops recording when you call [`stop_record_call`](/docs/swml/reference/stop-record-call).

### `tap` and `stop_tap`

The [`tap`](/docs/swml/reference/tap) method starts streaming the call to an RTP or a web socket sink.
The [`stop_tap`](/docs/swml/reference/stop-tap) method stops it.

### `sip_refer`

The [`sip_refer`](/docs/swml/reference/sip-refer) method transfer a SIP call by sending a SIP REFER
message.

### `send_sms`

Use [`send_sms`](/docs/swml/reference/send-sms) to send an SMS to a phone number.

### `send_digits`

Use [`send_digits`](/docs/swml/reference/send-digits) to send digits as DTMF tones.