A helper entity that can be set and read by an automation. | Home Assistant | Page 1

stray shard Jan 19, 2026, 3:15 PM

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Is there some way to create a helper entity/sensor/whatever that an automation can set a value of and can later be read? Specifically would be used to store a zone someone is in at the time of the write by the automation and later be read by an automation to trigger a notification.

midnight heart Jan 19, 2026, 3:24 PM

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input_text maybe? https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/input_text/

Home Assistant

Input text

Instructions on how to integrate the Input text integration into Home Assistant.

stray shard Jan 19, 2026, 3:26 PM

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midnight heart input_text maybe? https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/input_text/

I think that's perfect yea, will look at it. Only negative I can think of right now is not persistent storage, in the case I update HA or just restart mid-day while not everyone is home

midnight heart Jan 19, 2026, 3:27 PM

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The value will persist across restarts by default

stray shard Jan 19, 2026, 3:28 PM

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oh rly?

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I thought it would be the initial value that it would be reset back to

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ah ok I see

#A helper entity that can be set and read by an automation.