---
title: Forced Decision methods for the React SDK
slug: feature-experimentation/docs/forced-decision-methods-react-prior-to-v4
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-08-05T20:39:55.000Z
---

These methods help test and debug various flows of your client applications by forcing users into a specific variation.

The React SDK checks forced decisions before making any decisions. If a matching item is found for the requested flag, the SDK returns the forced decision immediately (audience conditions and traffic allocations are ignored) before making normal decisions.

The React SDK checks for forced decisions at the start of each decision process. If a matching forced decision is found, it returns the decision immediately.

- **Flag-to-Decision** – The SDK checks at the start of any decide call for the given flag.
- **Experiment-Rule-to-Decision** – The SDK checks at the start of the decision for the given experiment rule of the flag key.
- **Delivery-Rule-to-Decision** – The SDK checks at the start of the decision for the given delivery rule of the flag key.

:::hint{type="danger"}
**Warning**
You must associate your variations to a [flag rule](docId:-yq2-thNRv7-SgwCXpG90) before calling any Forced Decision methods.
:::

On forced decisions, the React SDK fires impression events and notifications just like other normal decisions (unless disabled by the disableDecisionEvent option).

:::hint{type="info"}
**Note**
These forced decisions are not persistent and are cleared when the user is updated.
:::

For information about each method, click on the method name.

- [setForcedDecision](https://docs.developers.optimizely.com/feature-experimentation/docs/forced-decision-methods-react#set-forced-decision-method---setforceddecision)
- [getForcedDecision](https://docs.developers.optimizely.com/feature-experimentation/docs/forced-decision-methods-react#get-forced-decision-method---getforceddecision)
- [removeForcedDecision](https://docs.developers.optimizely.com/feature-experimentation/docs/forced-decision-methods-react#remove-forced-decision-method---removeforceddecision)
- [removeAllForcedDecisions](https://docs.developers.optimizely.com/feature-experimentation/docs/forced-decision-methods-react#remove-all-forced-decisions-method---removeallforceddecisions)

If you are calling forced decision methods right after initialization, ensure you wait for the user to be ready using the `onUserUpdate` promise.

```javascript
const optimizely = createInstance({ 
 sdkKey: '<Your_SDK_Key>', 
}); 

optimizely.onUserUpdate(() => {
  optimizely.setForcedDecision( 
    { 
      flagKey: "product_sort", 
      ruleKey: "experiment", 
    }, 
    { variationKey: "treatment" } 
  );
});
```

### OptimizelyDecisionContext

```javascript
export interface OptimizelyDecisionContext {
  flagKey: string;
  ruleKey?: string;
}
```

### OptimizelyForcedDecision

```javascript
export interface OptimizelyForcedDecision {
  variationKey: string;
}
```

## Set forced decision method - setForcedDecision()

### Version

2.8.0

### Description

Sets a forced decision (`variationKey`) for a given `OptimizelyDecisionContext`.

### Parameters

This table lists the required and optional parameters for the React SDK.

| Parameter                        | Type      | Description                                                                                                                                  |
| -------------------------------- | --------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **decisionContext** \*required\* | Interface | An instance of \`OptimizelyDecisionContext\` with the required \`flagKey\` and optional \`ruleKey\` for the forced decision you want to set. |
| **decision**\ \*required\*       | Interface | An instance of \`OptimizelyForcedDecision\` with the required \`variationKey\` for the forced decision you want to set.                      |

### Returns

A boolean value that indicates if setting the forced decision (`variationKey`) was completed.

### Example

```javascript
optimizely.setForcedDecision(
  { 
    flagKey: "product_sort", 
    ruleKey: "experiment", 
  }, 
  { variationKey: "treatment" }
 );
```

## Get forced decision method - getForcedDecision()

### Version

2.8.0

### Description

Returns the forced decision (`variationKey`) for a given `OptimizelyDecisionContext`. Returns the OptimizelyForcedDecision instance or null if there is no matching item.

### Parameters

This table lists the required and optional parameters for the React SDK.

| Parameter                        | Type      | Description                                                                                                                                  |
| -------------------------------- | --------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **decisionContext** \*required\* | Interface | An instance of \`OptimizelyDecisionContext\` with the required \`flagKey\` and optional \`ruleKey\` for the forced decision you want to get. |

### Returns

A forced decision `OptimizelyForcedDecision` instance for the context or null if there is no matching item.

### Example

```javascript
var forcedDecision = optimizely.getForcedDecision({
  flagKey: "product_sort",
  ruleKey: "experiment",
});
```

## Remove forced decision method - removeForcedDecision()

### Version

2.8.0

### Description

Removes the forced decision (`variationKey`) for a given `OptimizelyDecisionContext`.

### Parameters

This table lists the required and optional parameters for the React SDK.

| Parameters                       | Type      | Description                                                                                                                                     |
| -------------------------------- | --------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **decisionContext** \*required\* | Interface | An instance of \`OptimizelyDecisionContext\` with the required \`flagKey\` and optional \`ruleKey\` for the forced decision you want to remove. |

### Returns

A success/failure boolean status if the forced decision (`variationKey`) was removed.

### Example

```javascript
var success = optimizely.removeForcedDecision({
  flagKey: "product_sort",
  ruleKey: "experiment",
})
```

## Remove all forced decisions method - removeAllForcedDecisions()

### Version

2.8.0

### Description

Removes all forced decisions (`variationKey`) for the user context.

### Parameters

This table lists the required and optional parameters for the React SDK.

| Parameters | Type | Description |
| ---------- | ---- | ----------- |
| None       | N/A  | N/A         |

### Returns

A success/failure boolean status.

### Example

```javascript
var success = optimizely.removeAllForcedDecisions();
```

## Full Code Example

```javascript
import React from "react"; 
import { 
  createInstance, 
  OptimizelyProvider, 
  useDecision, 
  withOptimizely, 
} from "@optimizely/react-sdk"; 

const optimizely = createInstance({ 
   sdkKey: "<YOUR_SDK_KEY_HERE>", 
}); 

optimizely.onUserUpdate(() => { 
  // Wait for the user to be available before using forced decision methods. 
  optimizely.setForcedDecision({ flagKey: "product_sort" }, { variationKey: "treatment" });
}); 

const PurchaseButton = withOptimizely((props: any) => { 
  const handleClick = () => { 
    const { optimizely } = props; 
    optimizely.track("purchased"); 
  }; 
  return <div><button onClick={handleClick}>Purchase</button></div>; 
}); 

const RemoveForcedDecision = withOptimizely((props: any) => { 
  const handleClick = () => {
    const { optimizely } = props; 
    optimizely.removeForcedDecision({ flagKey: 'product_sort' });
  };
  return <div><button onClick={handleClick}>Remove Forced Decision</button></div>; 
});

const RemoveAllForcedDecisions = withOptimizely((props: any) => { 
  const handleClick = () => { 
    const { optimizely } = props; 
    optimizely.removeAllForcedDecisions(); 
  }; 
  return <div><button onClick={handleClick}>Remove All Forced Decisions</button></div>; 
}); 

function ProductSort() { 
  const [decision] = useDecision("product_sort", { 
    autoUpdate: true 
  }); 

  const variationKey = decision.variationKey;
  const isEnabled = decision.enabled;
  const sortMethod = decision.variables["sort_method"]; 

  return ( 
     <div> 
       {/* If variation is null, display error */} 
       {variationKey === null && <div className="error">{decision.reasons}</div>} 

       {/* If feature is enabled, do something with the Sort Method variable */} 
       {isEnabled && <div>The Sort method is {sortMethod}</div>} 

       {/* Show relevant component based on the variation key */} 
       {variationKey === "control" && <div>Control Component</div>} 
       {variationKey === "treatment" && <div>Treatment Component</div>} 

       {/* Show Purchase Button to track Purchase event */} 
       <PurchaseButton /> 
       <RemoveForcedDecision /> 
       <RemoveAllForcedDecisions /> 
     </div> 
  ); 
}

function App() { 
  return ( 
    <OptimizelyProvider 
      optimizely={optimizely} 
      user={{ 
        id: "user123", 
      }} 
    > 
      <ProductSort /> 
    </OptimizelyProvider> 
  ); 
} 

export default App;
```