# Explicit Invocation (Dialogflow)

![](https://developers.google.com/static/assistant/df-asdk/discovery/images/explicit-invocation.png)

Explicit invocation occurs when a user tells the Google Assistant to use your Action by name.
Optionally, the user can include an invocation phrase at the end of their
invocation that will take them directly to the function they're requesting.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** Users can discover your Action through the [Assistant directory](https://developers.google.com/assistant/directory), which is like a web store for Actions on the Google Assistant. The directory is a major source for your Action's discovery, so be sure to devote some development time to building a good listing.

## Explicit invocation components

The following example shows the different possible components of an explicit
invocation command:

![](https://developers.google.com/static/assistant/df-asdk/discovery/images/explicit-invocation-grammar.png)

### Trigger phrase

These phrases start an explicit invocation and are defined by Actions on Google:

- "*Ok Google, talk to...*"
- "*Ok Google, speak to...*"
- "*Ok Google, I want to speak to...*"
- "*Ok Google, ask...*"

You can read about trigger phrases for each language on
[Languages and Locales](https://developers.google.com/assistant/console/languages-locales).

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** On Android devices, trigger phrases invoke your Action, unless the phrase overlaps with an App Actions [built-in intent](https://developers.google.com/assistant/app/intents). In these cases, Assistant launches your app, if it's installed, instead of the Action.
>
>
> For example, if a user says something like, "*Hey Google, record that I ate
> a burrito on ExampleTracker,"* Assistant launches the *ExampleTracker*
> app, if it has implemented the [`actions.intent.RECORD_FOOD_OBSERVATION`](https://developers.google.com/assistant/app/reference/built-in-intents/health-and-fitness/record-food-observation)
> built-in intent, over any *ExampleTracker* Actions serving a similar intent.

### Invocation name

This is the name of your Action, such as "Personal Chef." Users combine this with
trigger phrases to explicitly invoke Actions by name, such as: "*Ok Google, let me
talk to Personal Chef.*"

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** It's important to have invocation in mind when you're figuring out what to name your Action. If you have a clever Action name but the Assistant has trouble recognizing it, users may have difficulty invoking your Action. Refer to our [naming policies](https://developers.google.com/assistant/console/policies/general-policies#naming_directory_listing_and_promotion) and [invocation checklist](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/checklist) for more details.

### Invocation phrase (optional)

Invocation phrases are a valuable mechanism to increase the discoverability of
your Action, and provide a way for users to deep link into your conversation by
providing a specific task to accomplish. These phrases illustrate various ways
users might request your Action's features, so the Google Assistant can better
understand your Action's capabilities and match them with user requests.

- "*find me recipes*"
- "*recommend a wine*"
- "*book a ride*"
- "*play a game*"
- "*want to meditate*"

Users combine your invocation name with invocation phrases to explicitly invoke
specific intents, such as: "*Ok Google, talk to Personal Chef to find me
recipes.*"

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** Make sure your invocation phrases are specific to your Action and describe real-world use cases. A common mistake is to define invocation phrases that are too general to be specific to your Action's purpose, which makes your phrases less useful and hurts your Action's discovery. Refer to [implicit invocation](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/discovery/implicit#writing_useful_invocation_phrases) and the [invocation checklist](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/checklist) for more details.

## Explicit invocation intent

If your Action is explicitly invoked without any invocation phrase and by name
("*Ok Google, talk to Personal Chef* ") the `actions.intent.MAIN` intent in your
Action is triggered. Your Actions project must only contain one main intent for
explicit invocation by name.

If your Action is explicitly invoked with an invocation phrase and by name
("*Ok Google, talk to Personal Chef for today's soup recipe*"), then the intent
corresponding with that invocation phrase is invoked.

For more information, reference our documentation on [intents](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/reference/intents).