An IVR is a pre-recorded voice menu communicated to a caller as soon as they call (or right after a pre-recorded greeting) that responds to key inputs (usually numbers 0 to 9 on the keypad) or voice commands. It is interactive in the sense that it can be over multiple levels—much like a flow chart—and it prompts responses from the caller. It efficiently gathers basic data for the live agent to help a caller better, or even to eliminate the need of an agent for simpler queries and information requests.