Which statement best defines a rule input?

A rule input is a fundamental concept in Appian that refers to parameters that allow data to be passed into or out of an interface. When you define a rule input, you are specifying the data that is needed for the interface to function correctly. It facilitates communication between the interface and the underlying logic, ensuring that the necessary data is available for processing while also allowing it to output results back to the calling context.

For instance, when you design an interface that requires user input or needs to display specific data, rule inputs are critical for binding those data elements. They ensure that the right values are sent to and received from the components within the interface, enabling dynamic interactions based on user actions or other inputs.

The other alternatives focus on different aspects of user interaction or default behaviors within Appian but do not encapsulate the core functionality of rule inputs as accurately. For example, while guiding interactions and storing user preferences are important features of user interfaces, they do not specifically pertain to the mechanism of passing data. Generating default values is also a related concept but does not describe the role of rule inputs directly, which is fundamentally about managing data transfer.