Memory

Introduction

Memory lets you store variables that persist between conversations, workflows, and nodes. Unlike Context (which is only available during the current conversation), Memory keeps data available for future interactions with the user.

One memory per user, four ways to reach it. Memory is a single per-user store you access from different surfaces depending on where you are working:

Builder — {{$memory.key}} placeholder and $memory.set/get/... methods in code nodes.
Functions — ctx.memory client (see the ctx.memory guide).
AI Agent — memory_manager native tool (see Native tools).
REST API — endpoints POST https://gateway.jelou.ai/workflows/v2/memory/users/{get-all|find-one|set}.

Any write from one surface is immediately visible from the others. There are no parallel copies to sync.

Key features

Feature	Description
Configurable TTL	Define the time-to-live of each variable in seconds
Multiple types	Supports primitives, JSON, and files
File storage	Store images, videos, audio, and documents up to 10 MB
Specific methods	Differentiated API for each data type

Data types

Type	Max size	Per-variable TTL	Max per-variable TTL
String	255 characters	Optional	-
Number	15 digits	Optional	-
Boolean	-	Optional	-
JSON	15 KB	Required	86,400 s (1 day)
File	10 MB	Required	604,800 s (1 week)

TTL (Time To Live): Lifetime in seconds of each variable. Once the TTL elapses, the variable is automatically deleted. For example, 3600 = 1 hour, 86400 = 1 day.

How long Memory lasts overall

Memory has two independent clocks running at the same time:

Clock	Duration	What it controls	Renews when
hashTTL	30 days	The user’s entire memory	Any variable is written
Per-variable TTL	See table above	Each individual variable	Never renews — expires from the `set`

Mental rule: if the user writes anything to Memory at least once every 30 days, their memory lives indefinitely. If 30 full days pass without a write, all their memory is wiped. Each variable may still expire earlier due to its own TTL without affecting the rest.

Only writing (set, setJson, setFile) renews the hashTTL. Reading (get, getJson, getFile) does not count.

Saving variables

Using the Variable node

To save variables without code, use the Variable node inside the Logic section. In Variable enter the name and in Value what you want to save; it can be plain text, another variable, or a context value.

Variable: name
Value: {{$user.names}}

The Variable node is ideal for saving primitives (string, number, boolean) quickly and visually.

Each Variable node allows a maximum of 20 variables. If you need more, use multiple nodes or save the values from a code node.

Using code nodes

For greater control over TTL and complex data types, use the $memory methods in code nodes:

// Primitives (string, number, boolean) - TTL optional
$memory.set('name', 'John')
$memory.set('attempts', 3)
$memory.set('verified', true)

// Primitive with TTL (expires in 1 hour)
$memory.set('temporaryCode', 'ABC123', 3600)

// JSON - TTL required (maximum 1 day)
$memory.setJson('preferences', {
  language: 'en',
  notifications: true
}, 86400)

// File - async, TTL required, MIME required (maximum 1 week)
await $memory.setFile('receipt', base64String, 604800, 'application/pdf')

Reading variables

In any node

Inside any node you can access Memory with the syntax {{$memory.variableName}}. For example, if the variables in memory are:

{
  "name": "John",
  "lastOrder": { "id": "ORD-123", "status": "on the way" }
}

Then:

{{$memory.name}} shows John
{{$memory.lastOrder.status}} shows on the way

In code nodes

Use the specific methods according to the data type:

// Primitives
const name = $memory.get('name')
const name = $memory.get('name', 'Guest') // with default value

// JSON
const prefs = $memory.getJson('preferences')
const prefs = $memory.getJson('preferences', {}) // with default value

// Files - returns FileHandle
const file = $memory.getFile('receipt')

Working with files

When saving a file in Memory, you must provide the content in base64, the TTL, and the MIME type:

// Save a file
await $memory.setFile('document', base64Content, 604800, 'application/pdf')

When reading a file with $memory.getFile() you get a FileHandle with three methods to access the content:

Method	Description	Async
`.toUrl()`	Temporary URL for download (S3)	No
`.toBase64()`	Content as a base-64 string	Yes
`.toRaw()`	Buffer / Uint8Array	Yes

// Get temporary URL
const url = $memory.getFile('receipt').toUrl()

// Get content in base64
const base64 = await $memory.getFile('receipt').toBase64()

// Get file content
const content = await $memory.getFile('receipt').toRaw()

Allowed MIME types

Category	MIME types
Text	`text/plain`
JSON	`application/json`
XML	`application/xml`, `text/xml`
Images	`image/jpeg`, `image/png`, `image/gif`
Videos	`video/mp4`, `video/ogg`, `video/webm`, `video/x-msvideo`, `video/mpeg`
Audio	`audio/mpeg`, `audio/wav`, `audio/ogg`, `audio/aac`, `audio/flac`
Documents	`application/pdf`

The methods $memory.setFile(), $memory.getFile().toBase64(), and $memory.getFile().toRaw() are asynchronous. You must use await when calling them.

Deleting variables

You can delete variables before their TTL expires:

// Delete a variable
$memory.delete('temporary')

// Delete multiple variables
$memory.delete(['cache', 'session', 'temporary'])

Security

Do not store sensitive data in Memory:

Passwords or credit card numbers
Long-lived authentication tokens
Highly sensitive personally identifiable information (PII)

For long-term persistence, use Datum.

Getting Started

Developer

Jelou CLI

Outbound Messaging

Management

Marketplace

Channels

Configuration

Billing

Introduction

Key features

Data types

How long Memory lasts overall

Saving variables

Using the Variable node

Using code nodes

Reading variables

In any node

In code nodes

Working with files

Allowed MIME types

Deleting variables

Security

​Introduction

​Key features

​Data types

​How long Memory lasts overall

​Saving variables

​Using the Variable node

​Using code nodes

​Reading variables

​In any node

​In code nodes

​Working with files

​Allowed MIME types

​Deleting variables

​Security

Introduction

Key features

Data types

How long Memory lasts overall

Saving variables

Using the Variable node

Using code nodes

Reading variables

In any node

In code nodes

Working with files

Allowed MIME types

Deleting variables

Security