Answer()

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Answer a [[term:channel|channel]] if ringing.

Last reviewed 2026-08-22

Answer([delay,options])
Dialplan Builder -- build your Answer() command
Asterisk will wait this number of milliseconds before returning to the [[term:dialplan|dialplan]] after answering the call.
Full arguments reference
  • delay - Asterisk will wait this number of milliseconds before returning to the dialplanThe core call-routing configuration of Asterisk, written mostly in extensions.conf as contexts, extensions, and priorities that decide how every call is handled. Full definition → after answering the call.
  • options
    • i - Answer the channel immediately without waiting for media.
Description

If the call has not been answered, this application will answer it. Otherwise, it has no effect on the call.

By default, Asterisk will wait for media for up to 500 ms, or the user specified delay, whichever is longer. If you do not want to wait for media at all, use the i option.

Arguments
  • delay - Asterisk will wait this number of milliseconds before returning to the dialplanThe core call-routing configuration of Asterisk, written mostly in extensions.conf as contexts, extensions, and priorities that decide how every call is handled. Full definition → after answering the call.
  • options
    • i - Answer the channel immediately without waiting for media.
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MusicOnHold() ADSIProg() AELSub() AGI() AMD() AddQueueMember() AgentLogin() AgentRequest() AlarmReceiver() Answer() AttendedTransfer() AudioSocket() Authenticate() Background() BackgroundDetect() BlindTransfer() Bridge() BridgeAdd() BridgeWait() Broadcast() Busy() CELGenUserEvent() CallCompletionCancel() CallCompletionRequest() ChanIsAvail() ChanSpy() ChangeMonitor() ChannelRedirect() ClearHash() ConfBridge() ConfKick() Congestion() ContinueWhile() ControlPlayback() DAHDIAcceptR2Call() DAHDIRAS() DAHDIScan() DAHDISendCallreroutingFacility() DAHDISendKeypadFacility() DBdeltree() DISA() DateTime() DeadAGI() Dial() Dictate() Directory() DumpChan() EAGI() Echo() Else() ElseIf() EndIf() EndWhile() Exec() ExecIf() ExecIfTime() ExitIf() ExitWhile() ExtenSpy() ExternalIVR() Festival() Flash() FollowMe() ForkCDR() GetCPEID() Gosub() GosubIf() Goto() GotoIf() GotoIfTime() Hangup() HangupCauseClear() IAX2Provision() ICES() IVRDemo() If() ImportVar() Incomplete() JACK() JabberJoin() JabberLeave() JabberSend() JabberSendGroup() JabberStatus() Log() MP3Player() MSet() Macro() MacroExclusive() MacroExit() MacroIf() MailboxExists() MeetMe() MeetMeAdmin() MeetMeChannelAdmin() MeetMeCount() MessageSend() Milliwatt() MinivmAccMess() MinivmDelete() MinivmGreet() MinivmMWI() MinivmNotify() MinivmRecord() MixMonitor() Monitor() Morsecode() NBScat() NoCDR() NoOp() ODBCFinish() ODBC_Commit() ODBC_Rollback() OSPAuth() OSPFinish() OSPLookup() OSPNext() Originate() PJSIPHangup() PJSIPNotify() Page() Park() ParkAndAnnounce() ParkedCall() PauseMonitor() PauseQueueMember() Pickup() PickupChan() PlayTones() Playback() PrivacyManager() Proceeding() Progress() Queue() QueueLog() QueueUpdate() RaiseException() Read() ReadExten() ReceiveFAX() ReceiveMF() ReceiveSF() ReceiveText() Record() Reference section rework and a batch of audio converter improvements Reload() RemoveQueueMember() ResetCDR() RetryDial() Return() Ringing() SIPAddHeader() SIPDtmfMode() SIPRemoveHeader() SIPSendCustomINFO() SLAStation() SLATrunk() SMS() SayAlpha() SayAlphaCase() SayCountedAdj() SayCountedNoun() SayDigits() SayMoney() SayNumber() SayOrdinal() SayPhonetic() SayUnixTime() SendDTMF() SendFAX() SendImage() SendMF() SendSF() SendText() SendURL() Set() SetAMAFlags() Signal() SkelGuessNumber() SoftHangup() SpeechActivateGrammar() SpeechBackground() SpeechCreate() SpeechDeactivateGrammar() SpeechDestroy() SpeechLoadGrammar() SpeechProcessingSound() SpeechStart() SpeechUnloadGrammar() StackPop() StartMusicOnHold() Stasis() StatsD() StopMixMonitor() StopMonitor() StopMusicOnHold() StopPlayTones() StoreDTMF() StreamEcho() TestClient() TestServer() ToneScan() Transfer() TryExec() TrySystem() UnpauseMonitor() UnpauseQueueMember() UserEvent() VMAuthenticate() VMSayName() Verbose() VoiceMail() VoiceMailMain() VoiceMailPlayMsg() Wait() WaitDigit() WaitExten() WaitForCondition() WaitForNoise() WaitForRing() WaitForSignal() WaitForSilence() WaitForTone() WaitUntil() While() Zapateller()
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MusicOnHold() ADSIProg() AELSub() AGI() AMD() AddQueueMember() AgentLogin() AgentRequest() AlarmReceiver() Answer() AttendedTransfer() AudioSocket() Authenticate() Background() BackgroundDetect() BlindTransfer() Bridge() BridgeAdd() BridgeWait() Broadcast() Busy() CELGenUserEvent() CallCompletionCancel() CallCompletionRequest() ChanIsAvail() ChanSpy() ChangeMonitor() ChannelRedirect() ClearHash() ConfBridge() ConfKick() Congestion() ContinueWhile() ControlPlayback() DAHDIAcceptR2Call() DAHDIRAS() DAHDIScan() DAHDISendCallreroutingFacility() DAHDISendKeypadFacility() DBdeltree() DISA() DateTime() DeadAGI() Dial() Dictate() Directory() DumpChan() EAGI() Echo() Else() ElseIf() EndIf() EndWhile() Exec() ExecIf() ExecIfTime() ExitIf() ExitWhile() ExtenSpy() ExternalIVR() Festival() Flash() FollowMe() ForkCDR() GetCPEID() Gosub() GosubIf() Goto() GotoIf() GotoIfTime() Hangup() HangupCauseClear() IAX2Provision() ICES() IVRDemo() If() ImportVar() Incomplete() JACK() JabberJoin() JabberLeave() JabberSend() JabberSendGroup() JabberStatus() Log() MP3Player() MSet() Macro() MacroExclusive() MacroExit() MacroIf() MailboxExists() MeetMe() MeetMeAdmin() MeetMeChannelAdmin() MeetMeCount() MessageSend() Milliwatt() MinivmAccMess() MinivmDelete() MinivmGreet() MinivmMWI() MinivmNotify() MinivmRecord() MixMonitor() Monitor() Morsecode() NBScat() NoCDR() NoOp() ODBCFinish() ODBC_Commit() ODBC_Rollback() OSPAuth() OSPFinish() OSPLookup() OSPNext() Originate() PJSIPHangup() PJSIPNotify() Page() Park() ParkAndAnnounce() ParkedCall() PauseMonitor() PauseQueueMember() Pickup() PickupChan() PlayTones() Playback() PrivacyManager() Proceeding() Progress() Queue() QueueLog() QueueUpdate() RaiseException() Read() ReadExten() ReceiveFAX() ReceiveMF() ReceiveSF() ReceiveText() Record() Reference section rework and a batch of audio converter improvements Reload() RemoveQueueMember() ResetCDR() RetryDial() Return() Ringing() SIPAddHeader() SIPDtmfMode() SIPRemoveHeader() SIPSendCustomINFO() SLAStation() SLATrunk() SMS() SayAlpha() SayAlphaCase() SayCountedAdj() SayCountedNoun() SayDigits() SayMoney() SayNumber() SayOrdinal() SayPhonetic() SayUnixTime() SendDTMF() SendFAX() SendImage() SendMF() SendSF() SendText() SendURL() Set() SetAMAFlags() Signal() SkelGuessNumber() SoftHangup() SpeechActivateGrammar() SpeechBackground() SpeechCreate() SpeechDeactivateGrammar() SpeechDestroy() SpeechLoadGrammar() SpeechProcessingSound() SpeechStart() SpeechUnloadGrammar() StackPop() StartMusicOnHold() Stasis() StatsD() StopMixMonitor() StopMonitor() StopMusicOnHold() StopPlayTones() StoreDTMF() StreamEcho() TestClient() TestServer() ToneScan() Transfer() TryExec() TrySystem() UnpauseMonitor() UnpauseQueueMember() UserEvent() VMAuthenticate() VMSayName() Verbose() VoiceMail() VoiceMailMain() VoiceMailPlayMsg() Wait() WaitDigit() WaitExten() WaitForCondition() WaitForNoise() WaitForRing() WaitForSignal() WaitForSilence() WaitForTone() WaitUntil() While() Zapateller()