=_('Variables store information, like passwords and secret keys, that you can use in job scripts. All projects on the instance can use these variables.')
CircleCI provides [Contexts](https://circleci.com/docs/2.0/contexts/) to securely pass environment variables across project pipelines. In GitLab, a [Group](../../user/group/index.md) can be created to assemble related projects together. At the group level, [CI/CD variables](../variables/README.md#group-cicd-variables) can be stored outside the individual projects, and securely passed into pipelines across multiple projects.
CircleCI provides [Contexts](https://circleci.com/docs/2.0/contexts/) to securely pass environment variables across project pipelines. In GitLab, a [Group](../../user/group/index.md) can be created to assemble related projects together. At the group level, [CI/CD variables](../variables/README.md#add-a-cicd-variable-to-a-group) can be stored outside the individual projects, and securely passed into pipelines across multiple projects.
info:To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/engineering/ux/technical-writing/#assignments