User Input Yes No Prompt in Batch Scripting

User Input Yes/No Prompt in Batch Scripting

Many Batch Scripts require user confirmation before performing an action. For example, a script may ask whether you want to continue, delete a file, or restart a system.

In such cases, we can use a **Yes/No Prompt** to collect user input and execute different actions based on the response.
In this tutorial, we'll learn how to create a simple Yes/No prompt in Batch Scripting.

Example Script

  
  
@echo off

:start
cls
set /p user_input=Do you want to continue? (yes/no)?:
if not defined user_input goto start
::echo %user_input%
if /i %user_input%==y goto Yes
if /i %user_input%==n (goto No) else (goto InvalidInput)

:: /i for upercase, lowercase, or mixed case letters. It makes the comparison case-insensitive.

:Yes
echo user has entered yes
pause
goto start

:No
echo user has entered no
pause
goto start

:invalidInput
echo %user_input% is an Invalid input. Please enter 'y' or 'n'.` 
set user_input=
pause
goto start
  

How the Script Works

#Step 1: Ask for User Input

set /p user_input=Do you want to continue? (yes/no)?:


The user's response is stored in the variable:
user_input

Example:

y
OR
n




#Step 2: Check for Empty Input

if not defined user_input goto start

If the user presses Enter without typing anything, the script returns to the beginning and asks again.



#Step 3: Handle "Yes"

if /i %user_input%==y goto Yes

If the user enters:
y


The script jumps to:
:Yes



Output:

user has entered yes




#Step 4: Handle "No"

if /i %user_input%==n (goto No)
If the user enters:
n


The script jumps to:
:No


Output:
user has entered no



#Step 5: Handle Invalid Input

If the user enters something else:

abc


The script jumps to:
:InvalidInput

Output:

abc is an Invalid input. Please enter 'y' or 'n'.
The variable is cleared and the user is asked again.

What Does /I Mean?

The `/i` option makes comparisons case-insensitive.

Example:

The following inputs will all be treated as valid:
y
Y

Without `/i`, Batch would treat uppercase and lowercase letters differently.

Sample Output

#User Enters Yes

Do you want to continue? (yes/no)? y
user has entered yes


#User Enters No

Do you want to continue? (yes/no)? n
user has entered no


#User Enters Invalid Value
Do you want to continue? (yes/no)? hello

hello is an Invalid input. Please enter 'y' or 'n'.

Real-World Uses

System Engineers often use Yes/No prompts for:

• * Confirming software installations
• * Starting backups
• * Restarting services
• * Deleting files or folders
• * Running maintenance tasks
• * Executing administrative scripts

This helps prevent accidental actions.

Interview Questions

#What does `set /p` do?
It takes input from the user and stores it in a variable.


#What does `if not defined` do?
It checks whether a variable is empty.


#What does `/i` mean in an IF statement?
It makes the comparison case-insensitive.


#Why is input validation important?
It prevents users from entering invalid values and improves script reliability.


#What is the purpose of `goto`?
It transfers execution to a specified label.

Conclusion

A Yes/No prompt is a simple but useful feature in Batch Scripting. It allows scripts to interact with users, validate input, and perform different actions based on the response. By combining `set /p`, `if`, and `goto`, you can build more interactive and user-friendly automation scripts.