A validated US ZIP code field with optional automatic State and Region lookup.
What respondents see#
A text field that validates the entry as a US ZIP code. Nothing else changes visually when State & Region Lookup is on — the lookup runs silently behind the scenes. When the ZIP question is the only question on its page, the cursor is already blinking in the field, so respondents can type straight away (on a phone the number keypad opens).
When to use it#
- Location-based screening or quota segmentation (e.g., quota by Census region).
- Store/dealer locator or shipping-eligibility questions.
- Any study that needs geography without asking respondents to type their state.
Configuring it in the builder#
Open Settings → State & Region Lookup and turn it on.
Settings reference#
| Setting | What it controls | Default |
|---|---|---|
| State & Region Lookup | Automatically derives State and Region from the entered ZIP and stores them as global variables | Off |
| Region Mapping | US Census 4 Regions or US Census 9 Divisions | US Census 4 Regions |
| Review / edit match lists | Shows, and lets you change, which ZIP codes belong to which state, which states belong to which region, and the name shown for each state | The Census lists for the chosen Region Mapping, and the standard state names |
| Code Length (digits) | Required digit length for a valid entry, in the Validation tab (range 3–10) | 5 |
Turning the toggle on creates three global variables the first time it's enabled — ZipCode, State, and Region — which you can then use anywhere global variables are used: display logic, quotas, piping, or exports. See Variables & Panel Redirects.
Reviewing and editing the match lists#
Select Review / edit match lists to see the lists the lookup uses, written the way the old Qualtrics script wrote them. There are three:
- stateZipCodes lists the ZIP codes for each state. An entry is one ZIP (
"06390") or a range ("10001-14925"). - regions lists the states in each region. The name on the left is what the Region variable records.
- stateNames gives each state code the name shown next to it when you pick a State in display logic or quotas, for example
NV: "Nevada". Change"Nevada"to"Neva"and the picker shows NV - Neva. The State variable still records the code (NV), so renaming never changes your data or your existing logic.
Change anything you need, for example rename a region, move a state to another region, add a region of your own, or rename a state, and select Save. Your lists apply to this question only. The Region Mapping menu is locked while your own lists are in use, and Reset to Census defaults puts the standard lists back.
Save stays off until the lists make sense: a ZIP can belong to one state only and a state to one region only, every state name needs text in quotes, and a typing mistake is shown with its line number. A state you leave out of every region is allowed, but its respondents record Unknown as their Region.
If the survey is already live, new responses use your changes while responses already collected keep what they recorded. A display or skip condition or a quota that names a region you renamed or removed stops matching, so update those too.
Logic support#
ZIP Code is a validated text type — standard text operators apply (Equals, Contains, Answered, Not answered). For region- or state-based logic, condition on the State/Region global variables the lookup creates rather than parsing the raw ZIP. See Display logic — The condition builder.
What State and Region record#
| Variable | What it records | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ZipCode | The ZIP as typed | 89501 |
| State | The 2-letter postal code, not the full name | NV (Nevada) |
| Region | The region's name exactly as the match lists spell it | West (4 Regions), Pacific (9 Divisions) |
A ZIP that matches no list records Unknown for both State and Region.
When you build a condition on State or Region, in display or skip logic, a flow branch or a quota, the value box becomes a picker. State lists each state as code and name (for example NV - Nevada, or whatever name you gave it in stateNames), and Region lists the regions in your match lists, including any you renamed or added. Choose "If State is equal to NV" from the list instead of typing it. The condition still stores the code, so it matches what the lookup records.
The picker appears only while State & Region Lookup is on for a ZIP Code question. With the toggle off nothing is mapped, so the value box is plain text and a condition on State or Region never matches. If you rename or remove a region that a condition already uses, the condition shows the old name followed by (not in the list); pick the new one.
Related guides#
- Question Types — overview and when-to-use table
- Text & Contact Questions — this type alongside email, phone, and postal code
- Variables & Panel Redirects — using the ZipCode/State/Region variables
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