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# Templating
# Templating variables for metrics dashboards
Templating variables can be used to make your dashboard more versatile.
Templating variables can be used to make your metrics dashboard more versatile.
## Templating variable types
`templating` is a top-level key in the [dashboard YAML](../integrations/prometheus.md#dashboard-top-level-properties).
The `variables` key under `templating` is where all your variables should be defined.
The value of the `variables` key should be a hash. Each key under `variables`