Default Value

Default Values are the default arguments values in blocks when shown in the block palette. Every block with an insert has default values, even if they are blank.

If a reporter block is put into an insert in Scratch 3.0 and taken out of it again, it will return to the previous value. If the reporter block was, however, dragged in using a previous version of Scratch, and is removed in 3.0, the value will revert to 10 (for a numeric insert), or a blank string (in a string insert).

Default values help to make Scratch more intuitive: The default value of a block is generally a common value that should not have to change for simple cases. By giving an example the default value delivers an explanation added to the name of the block. So it motivates starters to explore unknown blocks.

For example, the Change () by () block has a default value of 1 for its second argument. This way it functions as a score keeper, timer, or counter. They can also serve to show how the block functions. For example, the Join ()() block has the default values "apple " and "banana". When a user sets a variable to the block to see the output, they see "apple banana", which explains the function of the block (concatenation) instantly.

A boolean insert's default value is false, even though they do not show their value. This can be tested by simply running this script (notice the empty Boolean insert, where the block uses the default value):

when gf clicked
if <> then
say [True]
else
say [False] //The sprite would say this. Try it!
end

List of Default Values

Block	Default Values
move () steps	10
turn cw () degrees and turn ccw () degrees	15
go to ( v)	random position
go to x: () y: ()	x position, y position
glide () secs to ( v)	1, random position
glide () secs to x: () y: ()	1, x position, y position
point in direction ( )	90
point towards ( v)	mouse-pointer
change x by () and change y by ()	10
set x to ()	x position
set y to ()	y position
set rotation style [ v]	left-right
say [] for () seconds	"Hello!", 2
say []	"Hello!"
think [] for () seconds	"Hmm...", 2
think []	"Hmm..."
switch costume to ( v)	The last costume in order
switch backdrop to ( v) and switch backdrop to ( v) and wait	The last backdrop in order
change size by ()	10
set size to ()%	100
change [ v] effect by ()	color, 25
set [ v] effect to ()	color, 0
go to [ v] layer	front
go [ v] () layers	forward, 1
costume [ v] and backdrop [ v]	number
play sound ( v) until done and start sound ( v)	The last sound in the Sound List
change [ v] effect by ():: sound	pitch, 10
set [ v] effect to ():: sound	pitch, 100
change volume by ()	-10
set volume to () %	100
when [ v] key pressed	space
when backdrop switches to [ v]	The first backdrop in order
when [ v] > ()	Loudness, 10
when I receive [ v], broadcast ( v), and broadcast ( v) and wait	The first message alphabetically
wait () seconds	1
repeat ()	10
stop [ v]	all
create clone of ( v) in a sprite	myself
create clone of ( v) in the Stage	The first sprite in the sprite pane
<touching ( v)?>	mouse-pointer
<touching color [#ff0000]?> and <color [#ff0000] is touching [#ff0000]?>	A random color, refreshed when a user switches to the Stage in the Sprite Pane
(distance to ( v))	mouse-pointer
ask [] and wait	"What's your name?"
<key ( v) pressed?>	space
set drag mode [ v]	draggable
([ v] of ( v))	backdrop #, Stage
current [ v]	year
(() + ()), (() - ()), (() * ()), (() / ()), and (() mod ())	"", ""
(pick random () to ())	1, 10
<[] < []>, <[] = []>, and <[] > []>	"", 50
(join [] [])	"apple ", "banana"
(letter () of [])	1, "apple"
(length of ())	"apple"
() contains ()?	"apple", "a"
(round ())	""
([ v] of ()::operators)	abs, ""
set [ v] to []	The first variable alphabetically, 0
change [ v] by ()	The first variable alphabetically, 1
show variable [ v] and hide variable [ v]	The first variable alphabetically
add [] to [ v] and item # of () in [ v]	"thing", the first list alphabetically
delete () of [ v] and (item () of [ v])	1, the first list alphabetically
delete all of [ v], length of [ v], show list [ v], and hide list [ v]	The first list alphabetically
insert [] at () of [ v]	"thing", 1, the first list alphabetically
replace item () of [ v] with []	1, the first list alphabetically, "thing"
<[ v] contains []?>	The first list alphabetically, "thing"
play drum ( v) for () beats	(1) Snare Drum, 0.25
rest for () beats	0.25
play note ( v) for () beats	60, 0.25
set instrument to ( v)	(1) Piano
set tempo to ()	60
change tempo by ()	20
set pen color to [#ff0000]	A random color
change pen ( v) by ()	color, 10
set pen ( v) to ()	color, 50
change pen size by ()	1
set pen size to ()	1
when video motion > ()	10
video ( v) on ( v)	motion, sprite
turn video ( v)	on
set video transparency to ()	50
speak ()	hello
set voice to ( v)	alto
set language to ( v)	English
translate () to ( v)	hello, a random language
when ( v) key pressed:: makeymakey	space
when ( v) pressed in order	left up right
when ( v) button pressed	A
( v) button pressed?	A
when ( v):: microbit	moved
display ( v):: microbit	a heart pattern
display text ():: microbit	Hello!
when tilted ( v):: microbit	any
when tilted ( v)?:: microbit	any
tilt angle ( v):: microbit	front
when pin ( v) connected	0
motor ( v) turn this way for () seconds	A, 1
motor ( v) turn that way for () seconds	A, 1
motor ( v) set power ()%	A, 100
motor ( v) position:: ev3	A
when button ( v) pressed	1
when distance \< ()	5
when brightness \< ()	50
button ( v) pressed?	1
turn motor ( v) for () seconds	A, 1
turn motor ( v) for () rotations	A, 1
turn motor ( v) on	A
turn motor ( v) off	A
set motor () speed to ()%	ABCD
set motor ( v) direction ( v)	A, this way
motor ( v) position:: boost	A
when ( v) brick seen	any color
seeing ( v) brick?	any color
when tilted ( v):: boost	any
tilt angle ( v):: boost	up
set light color to ():: boost	50
turn ( v) on for () seconds	motor, 1
turn ( v) on	motor
turn ( v) off	motor
set ( v) power to ()	motor, 100
set ( v) direction to ( v)	motor, this way
set light color to ():: wedo	50
when distance ( v) ():: wedo	<, 50
when tilted ( v):: wedo	any
tilted ( v)?:: wedo	any
tilt angle ( v):: wedo	up
when ( v):: gdxfor	shaken
when force sensor ( v)	pushed
<tilted ( v)?:: gdxfor>	any
(tilt angle ( v):: gdxfor)	front
(spin speed ( v))	z
(acceleration ( v))	x
Empty Boolean inputs	false

See Also

• Argument