> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.pawtograder.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Poll Types

> Choose between single choice and multiple choice polls for different classroom scenarios

# Poll Types

Pawtograder supports two poll types to accommodate different polling needs. Each type allows students to respond quickly during class.

## Single Choice

Students select exactly one option from a predefined list. This uses radio button selection.

**Best for:**

* Yes/no or true/false questions
* Questions with one correct answer
* Forced-choice preference questions
* Concept check questions
* A/B/C/D multiple choice exam-style questions

**Configuration:**

* Add 2 or more answer options
* Students can select exactly one option
* Selecting a new option automatically deselects the previous choice

**Example Questions:**

* "Is this code snippet thread-safe?" (Yes / No)
* "What is the time complexity of binary search?" (O(1) / O(log n) / O(n) / O(n log n))
* "Which design pattern is being used here?" (Singleton / Factory / Observer / Strategy)

## Multiple Choice

Students can select one or more options from a predefined list. This uses checkbox selection.

**Best for:**

* "Select all that apply" questions
* Questions where multiple answers may be correct
* Gathering preferences where students may agree with several options
* Identifying common misconceptions (students may have multiple)

**Configuration:**

* Add 2 or more answer options
* Students can select any number of options (including none or all)
* Each option can be independently selected/deselected

**Example Questions:**

* "Which of the following are valid JavaScript variable declarations?" (var x / let y / const z / int w)
* "What topics would you like more review on?" (Arrays / Recursion / Trees / Graphs)
* "Select all sorting algorithms with O(n log n) average case" (Bubble / Merge / Quick / Selection)

## Choosing the Right Poll Type

| Scenario                               | Recommended Type | Reason                              |
| -------------------------------------- | ---------------- | ----------------------------------- |
| True/False question                    | Single Choice    | Only one answer possible            |
| "What is the correct answer?"          | Single Choice    | One correct answer expected         |
| "Which do you prefer?"                 | Single Choice    | Forces a decision                   |
| "Select all that apply"                | Multiple Choice  | Multiple correct answers            |
| "What topics are confusing?"           | Multiple Choice  | Students may have multiple concerns |
| "Which concepts have you seen before?" | Multiple Choice  | Students may recognize several      |
| Attendance check                       | Single Choice    | Single "Present" option works       |
| Quick comprehension check              | Single Choice    | Keeps responses simple              |

## Response Behavior

### Single Choice

* When a student selects an option, any previous selection is cleared
* The response is stored as a single value
* Results show distribution across options (always totals to 100%)

### Multiple Choice

* Students can toggle options on/off independently
* The response is stored as an array of selected values
* Results show count per option (may exceed 100% when summed)

<Tip>
  Use **Single Choice** when you want students to commit to a single answer. Use **Multiple Choice** when the question naturally has multiple valid selections.
</Tip>

## Data Format

Poll responses are stored in JSON format:

**Single Choice Response:**

```json theme={null}
{
  "poll_question_0": "Option A"
}
```

**Multiple Choice Response:**

```json theme={null}
{
  "poll_question_0": ["Option A", "Option C"]
}
```

This data is used to generate real-time visualizations on the response dashboard.