Custom Build JavaScript FAQ Chatbots: Better Than AI Chatbots

In the ever-evolving digital landscape, chatbots have become an essential tool for enhancing user experience and providing instant support. With the rise of AI-driven chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini, businesses have embraced these technologies to offer responsive and dynamic customer interactions. However, as powerful as AI chatbots are, they come with certain limitations that can impact the accuracy and reliability of the information provided to users.

The Promise and Pitfalls of AI Chatbots

AI chatbots leverage vast amounts of web data to generate responses, making them highly responsive and capable of handling a wide range of queries. They can simulate human-like conversations and provide quick answers, which significantly enhances user engagement. However, there are critical drawbacks to relying solely on AI chatbots:

• Data Source Limitations: AI models are trained on extensive datasets that may not always be up-to-date, leading to responses that are not current or accurate.
• Context Understanding: AI chatbots might misinterpret the context, resulting in responses that do not align with the specific purpose or services of a website.
• Domain Specificity: General AI models may struggle with highly specialized domains, providing diluted and sometimes incorrect information.
• Inconsistent Responses: Without real-time updates, AI chatbots may give inconsistent answers, potentially harming the company's reputation.

A Real-World Example

Consider a company that specializes in petroleum products and also processes these products into cosmetics. An AI chatbot might provide the following responses:

• User: Do your company import from Russia or Iran?
• AI: Yes or No or make user in confusion.

In this case, if the company has recently made a public statement about not importing from certain countries, an AI chatbot might not reflect this updated information, leading to confusion among users.

Mitigation Strategies for AI Limitations

For many small or non-tech companies, directly influencing AI models and submitting data updates might not be practical or feasible. Here are some alternative mitigation strategies that can help:

• Custom FAQ Database: Maintain a custom FAQ database on the company's server. This ensures the chatbot retrieves the most accurate and up-to-date information directly from the company's own database rather than relying on broader AI training data.
• Hybrid Approach: Use a combination of AI and human customer service. Implement a chatbot for general inquiries and straightforward questions but have an option to escalate more complex or specific questions to a human representative.
• Webhooks and APIs: Implement webhooks and APIs to dynamically fetch information from the company's internal systems in real-time. This can provide up-to-date and accurate responses without needing to update the AI model itself.
• Clear Communication: Make it clear to users when they are interacting with an AI chatbot. Set expectations by informing them that while the chatbot can provide general information, for specific and critical queries, they should contact customer support.
• Feedback Loop: Incorporate a feedback mechanism where users can report incorrect or unclear answers. This feedback can be reviewed and used to improve the chatbot's accuracy.

The Need for Custom JavaScript Chatbots

Given the challenges of AI, integrating a custom JavaScript-based chatbot can offer a more controlled and reliable solution. Custom JS chatbots allow companies to maintain precise control over the data and ensure that the information provided is always accurate and up-to-date.

Creating a Custom JavaScript Chatbot

Below is an example of a simple custom chatbot implemented with JavaScript. It uses an FAQ database to provide responses:

style.css

This file contains all the styling for the FAQ accordion and the chatbot widget.

Key Styles:

• Accordion Styles:
  • .accordion and .accordion-header: Define the layout and design of the FAQ accordion headers.
  • .accordion-content: Sets the initial state (display: none) to keep content hidden until the header is clicked.
• Chat Widget Styles:
  • #chat-widget, #chat-header, #chat-body: Manage the appearance and layout of the chatbot. These styles ensure the widget is fixed in the bottom-right corner and has a clean look.
  • #chat-input and #chat-send: Style the input field and the send button for user interaction.

        /* Common styles */
        body {
          font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
          margin: 20px;
        }
    
        /* Accordion styles */
        .accordion {
          margin: 10px 0;
        }
        .accordion-header {
          cursor: pointer;
          background: #007BFF;
          color: white;
          padding: 10px;
          border: none;
          text-align: left;
          outline: none;
          font-size: 16px;
        }
        .accordion-content {
          display: none;
          padding: 10px;
          border: 1px solid #007BFF;
          border-top: none;
        }
    
        /* Chat widget styles */
        #chat-widget {
          position: fixed;
          bottom: 10px;
          right: 10px;
          width: 300px;
          border: 1px solid #007BFF;
          border-radius: 8px;
          box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);
        }
        #chat-header {
          background-color: #007BFF;
          color: white;
          padding: 10px;
          text-align: center;
          border-radius: 8px 8px 0 0;
          cursor: pointer;
        }
        #chat-body {
          display: none;
          background-color: white;
          padding: 10px;
          border-radius: 0 0 8px 8px;
        }
        #chat-content {
          max-height: 200px;
          overflow-y: auto;
          margin-bottom: 10px;
          border: 1px solid #ddd;
          padding: 5px;
          border-radius: 4px;
        }
        #chat-input {
          width: 75%;
          padding: 5px;
          border: 1px solid #ddd;
          border-radius: 4px;
          margin-right: 5px;
        }
        #chat-send {
          width: 20%;
          padding: 5px;
          background-color: #007BFF;
          color: white;
          border: none;
          border-radius: 4px;
          cursor: pointer;
        }
    

index.html

This is the main structure of the webpage. It links the style.css and includes placeholders for the FAQ accordion and the chatbot widget.

Key Sections:

• FAQ Container (<div id="faq"></div>): This is where the FAQ accordion will be dynamically rendered by the accordion.js file.
• Chat Widget (<div id="chat-widget">): Includes the chat header for toggling visibility, the chat body to display messages, and the input box with the send button.
• JavaScript Links: Scripts faq.js, accordion.js, and chat.js are linked to add functionalities for the FAQ accordion and the chatbot.

<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
  <title>Custom FAQ Chatbot</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="style.css">
</head>
<body>
  <h1>FAQ Accordion</h1>
  <div id="faq"></div>
        
  <div id="chat-widget">
    <div id="chat-header">Chat with us!</div>
    <div id="chat-body">
      <div id="chat-content"></div>
      <input id="chat-input" type="text" placeholder="Ask a question...">
      <button id="chat-send">Send</button>
    </div>
  </div>
  <script src="faq.js"></script>
  <script src="accordion.js"></script>
  <script src="chat.js"></script>
</body>
</html>
        

faq.js

  
  // FAQ Accordion JavaScript
  const faqs = [
    { question: "What is JavaScript?", answer: "JavaScript is a programming language used to create dynamic website content." },
    { question: "What is an array?", answer: "An array is a data structure used to store multiple values in a single variable." },
    { question: "What is an accordion?", answer: "An accordion is a UI component that expands to show hidden content." }
  ];
          

accordion.js

This script dynamically renders the FAQ accordion and handles its interactivity.

Key Functions:

• faqs Array: Stores the FAQ data (questions and answers) as an array of objects.
• Dynamic Rendering: Loops through the faqs array and creates accordion headers (<button>) and content sections (<div>).
• Toggle Functionality: Adds a click event to each header to show or hide the corresponding content by toggling the display property.

const faqContainer = document.getElementById('faq');
          
  faqs.forEach((faq, index) => {
    const accordion = document.createElement('div');
    accordion.className = 'accordion';
          
    const header = document.createElement('button');
    header.className = 'accordion-header';
    header.textContent = faq.question;
    header.addEventListener('click', () => {
      const content = document.getElementById(`content-${index}`);
      content.style.display = content.style.display === 'block' ? 'none' : 'block';
    });
          
    const content = document.createElement('div');
    content.className = 'accordion-content';
    content.id = `content-${index}`;
    content.textContent = faq.answer;
          
    accordion.appendChild(header);
    accordion.appendChild(content);
    faqContainer.appendChild(accordion);
  });

chat.js

This script manages the chatbot's functionality, including toggling visibility, handling user input, and responding with relevant answers.

Key Features:

• Toggle Visibility: Uses a click event on the chat header (#chat-header) to show or hide the chat body by toggling the display property.
• Query Matching:
  • findAnswer Function: Splits the user's query into words and compares it with the faqs array using word matching. Finds the best match based on the number of matching words in the question and returns the corresponding FAQ.
• Handle User Input: Adds the user's query to the chat display and then appends the corresponding answer (or an error message if no match is found).

 
  // Chatbot JavaScript
  const chatHeader = document.getElementById("chat-header");
  const chatBody = document.getElementById("chat-body");
  const chatContent = document.getElementById("chat-content");
  const chatInput = document.getElementById("chat-input");
  const chatSend = document.getElementById("chat-send");
          
  // Toggle chat body visibility
  chatHeader.addEventListener("click", () => {
    chatBody.style.display = chatBody.style.display === "none" || chatBody.style.display === "" ? "block" : "none";
  });
          
  // Function to find the best match for the user's query
  function findAnswer(userQuery) {
    const queryWords = userQuery.toLowerCase().split(" ");
    let bestMatch = null;
    let maxMatches = 0;
          
    faqs.forEach(faq => {
      const questionWords = faq.question.toLowerCase().split(" ");
      const matches = queryWords.filter(word => questionWords.includes(word)).length;
          
      if (matches > maxMatches) {
        maxMatches = matches;
        bestMatch = faq;
      }
    });
          
    return bestMatch;
  }
          
  // Handle user input
  chatSend.addEventListener("click", () => {
    const userQuestion = chatInput.value.trim();
    if (userQuestion === "") return;
          
    // Add user input to chat
    const userMessage = document.createElement("div");
    userMessage.textContent = "You: " + userQuestion;
    chatContent.appendChild(userMessage);
          
    // Find and display the best matching FAQ answer
    const faq = findAnswer(userQuestion);
    const botMessage = document.createElement("div");
    botMessage.textContent = faq
      ? "Bot: " + faq.answer
      : "Bot: Sorry, I couldn't find an answer for your query.";
    chatContent.appendChild(botMessage);
          
    // Clear input and scroll to bottom
    chatInput.value = "";
    chatContent.scrollTop = chatContent.scrollHeight;
  });

Function Flow Summary

Page Load:

• accordion.js dynamically generates the FAQ accordion in the <div id="faq">.
• The chat widget is visible but the body is initially hidden (display: none).

User Interaction:

• Accordion: Clicking a header toggles the visibility of its content.
• Chatbot:
  • Clicking the chat header shows or hides the chat interface.
  • Entering a query and clicking "Send" triggers the chatbot to find the best-matching FAQ and display the response.

Conclusion

While AI-driven chatbots offer responsiveness and dynamic interactions, they are not always reliable for delivering accurate and context-specific information. This is especially true for businesses with specialized domains or rapidly changing information. A custom JavaScript chatbot provides a more controlled and reliable solution, ensuring that users receive the most current and relevant answers.

For businesses looking to integrate a powerful and versatile FAQ chatbot, consider using https://faqbot.bmwtech.in/. This free widget offers unlimited FAQ hosting and can be easily integrated as an accordion or chat. With advanced capabilities that mimic real human interactions, this FAQ bot understands the context of questions and provides accurate answers effortlessly.