=_('Variables store information, like passwords and secret keys, that you can use in job scripts. All projects on the instance can use these variables.')
=_('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
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# CI/CD variables **(FREE)**
This document was moved to [another location](../ci/variables/README.md#cicd-variable-security).
CI/CD variables are applied to environments via the runner and can be set from the project's **Settings > CI/CD** page.
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The values are encrypted using [`aes-256-cbc`](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Encryption_Standard) and stored in the database.
This data can only be decrypted with a valid [secrets file](../raketasks/backup_restore.md#when-the-secrets-file-is-lost).