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- Variables overview
- Variables triggered via manual pipeline
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doc/ci/variables/README.md
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table_display_block: true
---
# GitLab CI/CD Variables
# GitLab CI/CD environment variables
{: #variables}
When receiving a job from GitLab CI, the [Runner](https://docs.gitlab.com/runner/) prepares the build environment.
It starts by setting a list of:
After a brief overview over the use of environment
variables, this document teaches you how to use GitLab CI/CD's
variables, presents the full reference for predefined variables,
and dives into more advanced applications.
- [Predefined environment variables](#predefined-environment-variables).
- Other variables.
## Overview
## Priority of variables
An environment variable is a dynamic-named value that can
affect the way running processes will behave on an operating
system.
Variables of different types can take precedence over other variables, depending on where they are defined.
They are part of the environment in which a process runs.
For example, a running process can query the value of the
`TEMP` environment variable to discover a suitable location
to store temporary files, or to define a `URL` for a database
that can be reused in different scripts.
The order of precedence for variables is (from highest to lowest):
Variables are useful for customizing your jobs in GitLab
CI/CD's pipelines. Using variables means no hardcoded values.
1. [Trigger variables](../triggers/README.md#making-use-of-trigger-variables) or [scheduled pipeline variables](../../user/project/pipelines/schedules.md#making-use-of-scheduled-pipeline-variables).
1. Project-level [variables](#variables) or [protected variables](#protected-variables).
1. Group-level [variables](#variables) or [protected variables](#protected-variables).
1. YAML-defined [job-level variables](../yaml/README.md#variables).
1. YAML-defined [global variables](../yaml/README.md#variables).
1. [Deployment variables](#deployment-variables).
1. [Predefined environment variables](#predefined-environment-variables).
### Predefined environment variables
For example, you define:
GitLab CI/CD has a default set of
[predefined variables](predefined_variables.md)
which can be used without any specification needed.
You can call issues numbers, user names, branch names,
pipeline and commit IDs, and much more.
- `API_TOKEN=secure` as a project variable.
- `API_TOKEN=yaml` in your `.gitlab-ci.yml`.
Predefined environment variables are the ones that GitLab
provides out of the box for the local environment of the Runner.
`API_TOKEN` will take the value `secure` as the project variables take precedence over those defined
in `.gitlab-ci.yml`.
GitLab reads the .gitlab-ci.yml file, sends the information
to the Runner (which runs the script commands), under which
the variables are exposed.
## Unsupported variables
For example, two jobs under the same pipeline can share the same
`CI_PIPELINE_ID` variable, but each one has its own `CI_JOB_ID`
variable.
There are cases where some variables cannot be used in the context of a
`.gitlab-ci.yml` definition (for example under `script`). Read more
about which variables are [not supported](where_variables_can_be_used.md).
### Custom environment variables
When your use case requires a specific variable, you can
[set them up easily from the UI](#creating-a-custom-environment-variable)
or directly in the `.gitlab-ci.yml` file and reuse them as you wish.
That can be very powerful as it can be used for scripting without
the need to specify the value itself.
## Getting started
To get started with environment variables in the scope of GitLab
CI/CD, let's go over a few examples.
### Using predefined environment variables
To get started, choose one of the existing
[predefined variables](predefined_variables.md)
to be output by the Runner. For example, let's say that you want
a given job you're running through your script to output the
stage that job is running for. In your `.gitlab-ci.yml` file,
call the variable from your script according to the [syntaxes](#syntax-of-variables-in-job-scripts) available. To
output the job stage, use the predefined variable `CI_JOB_STAGE`:
```yaml
test_variable:
stage: test
script:
- echo $CI_JOB_STAGE
```
For this case, the Runner will output the `stage` for the
job `test_variable`, which is `test`:
![Output `$CI_JOB_STAGE`](img/ci_job_stage_output_example.png)
As another example, let's say you're using your own GitLab
instance you want to know what domain your GitLab Pages are
served under. You can easily call it with the predefined
variable `$CI_PAGES_DOMAIN` in your script:
```yaml
pages:
script:
- ...
- echo $CI_PAGES_DOMAIN
```
For GitLab.com users, the output will be `gitlab.io`. For your
private instance, the output will be whatever your sysadmin has
defined.
### Creating a custom environment variable
Assume you have something you want to repeat through your scripts
in GitLab CI/CD's configuration file. To keep this example simple,
let's say you want to output `HELLO WORLD` for a `TEST` variable.
You can either set the variable directly in the `.gitlab-ci.yml`
file or through the UI.
#### Via [`.gitlab-ci.yml`](../yaml/README.md#variables)
```yaml
variables:
TEST: "HELLO WORLD"
```
For a deeper look into them, see [`.gitlab-ci.yml` defined variables](#gitlab-ciyml-defined-variables).
#### Via the UI
From the UI, navigate to your project's **Settings > CI/CD** and
expand **Environment variables**. Create a new variable by naming
it in the field **Input variable key**, and define its value in the
**Input variable value** field:
![CI/CD settings - new variable](img/new_custom_variable_example.png)
Once you've set the variables, call them from the `.gitlab-ci.yml` file:
```yaml
test_variable:
stage: test
script:
- echo $CI_JOB_STAGE # calls a predefined variable
- echo $TEST # calls a custom variable
```
The output will be:
![Output custom variable](img/custom_variable_output.png)
CAUTION: **Important:**
Be aware that variables are not masked, and their values can be shown
in the job logs if explicitly asked to do so. If your project is public or
internal, you can set the pipelines private from your [project's Pipelines
settings](../../user/project/pipelines/settings.md#visibility-of-pipelines).
Follow the discussion in issue [#13784][ce-13784] for masking the variables.
### Syntax of environment variables in job scripts
{: #syntax-of-variables-in-job-scripts}
## Predefined environment variables
All variables are set as environment variables in the build environment, and
they are accessible with normal methods that are used to access such variables.
In most cases `bash` or `sh` is used to execute the job script.
To access environment variables, use the syntax for your Runner's [shell][shellexecutors].
| Shell | Usage |
|----------------------|-----------------|
| bash/sh | `$variable` |
| windows batch | `%variable%` |
| PowerShell | `$env:variable` |
To access environment variables in bash, prefix the variable name with (`$`):
```yaml
job_name:
script:
- echo $CI_JOB_ID
```
To access environment variables in **Windows Batch**, surround the variable
with (`%`):
```yaml
job_name:
script:
- echo %CI_JOB_ID%
```
See [full reference of predefined environment variables](predefined_variables.md).
To access environment variables in a **Windows PowerShell** environment, prefix
the variable name with (`$env:`):
```yaml
job_name:
script:
- echo $env:CI_JOB_ID
```
You can also list all environment variables with the `export` command,
but be aware that this will also expose the values of all the variables
you set, in the job log:
```yaml
job_name:
script:
- export
```
Example values:
```bash
export CI_JOB_ID="50"
export CI_COMMIT_SHA="1ecfd275763eff1d6b4844ea3168962458c9f27a"
export CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA="1ecfd275"
export CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME="master"
export CI_REPOSITORY_URL="https://gitlab-ci-token:abcde-1234ABCD5678ef@example.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce.git"
export CI_COMMIT_TAG="1.0.0"
export CI_JOB_NAME="spec:other"
export CI_JOB_STAGE="test"
export CI_JOB_MANUAL="true"
export CI_JOB_TRIGGERED="true"
export CI_JOB_TOKEN="abcde-1234ABCD5678ef"
export CI_PIPELINE_ID="1000"
export CI_PIPELINE_IID="10"
export CI_PAGES_DOMAIN="gitlab.io"
export CI_PAGES_URL="https://gitlab-org.gitlab.io/gitlab-ce"
export CI_PROJECT_ID="34"
export CI_PROJECT_DIR="/builds/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce"
export CI_PROJECT_NAME="gitlab-ce"
export CI_PROJECT_NAMESPACE="gitlab-org"
export CI_PROJECT_PATH="gitlab-org/gitlab-ce"
export CI_PROJECT_URL="https://example.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce"
export CI_REGISTRY="registry.example.com"
export CI_REGISTRY_IMAGE="registry.example.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce"
export CI_RUNNER_ID="10"
export CI_RUNNER_DESCRIPTION="my runner"
export CI_RUNNER_TAGS="docker, linux"
export CI_SERVER="yes"
export CI_SERVER_NAME="GitLab"
export CI_SERVER_REVISION="70606bf"
export CI_SERVER_VERSION="8.9.0"
export CI_SERVER_VERSION_MAJOR="8"
export CI_SERVER_VERSION_MINOR="9"
export CI_SERVER_VERSION_PATCH="0"
export GITLAB_USER_ID="42"
export GITLAB_USER_EMAIL="user@example.com"
export CI_REGISTRY_USER="gitlab-ci-token"
export CI_REGISTRY_PASSWORD="longalfanumstring"
```
## `.gitlab-ci.yml` defined variables
### `.gitlab-ci.yml` defined variables
NOTE **Note:**
NOTE: **Note:**
This feature requires GitLab Runner 0.5.0 or higher and GitLab 7.14 or higher.
GitLab CI allows you to add to `.gitlab-ci.yml` variables that are set in the
......@@ -82,42 +277,63 @@ script:
- 'eval $LS_CMD' # will execute 'ls -al $TMP_DIR'
```
## Variables
### Group-level environment variables
{: #group-level-variables}
> Group-level variables were introduced in GitLab 9.4.
CAUTION: **Important:**
Be aware that variables are not masked, and their values can be shown
in the job logs if explicitly asked to do so. If your project is public or
internal, you can set the pipelines private from your [project's Pipelines
settings](../../user/project/pipelines/settings.md#visibility-of-pipelines).
Follow the discussion in issue [#13784][ce-13784] for masking the variables.
> Introduced in GitLab 9.4.
GitLab CI allows you to define per-project or per-group variables
that are set in the pipeline environment. The variables are stored out of
GitLab CI/CD allows you to define per-project or per-group variables
that are set in the pipeline environment. Group-level variables are stored out of
the repository (not in `.gitlab-ci.yml`) and are securely passed to GitLab Runner
making them available during a pipeline run. It's the recommended method to
making them available during a pipeline run. It's the **recommended method** to
use for storing things like passwords, SSH keys, and credentials.
Project-level variables can be added by:
Group-level variables can be added by:
1. Navigating to your project's **Settings > CI/CD** page.
1. Navigating to your group's **Settings > CI/CD** page.
1. Inputing variable keys and values in the **Environment variables** section.
Any variables of [subgroups](../../user/group/subgroups/index.md) will be inherited recursively.
Group-level variables can be added by:
Once you set them, they will be available for all subsequent pipelines.
1. Navigating to your group's **Settings > CI/CD** page.
1. Inputing variable keys and values in the **Environment variables** section. Any variables of
[subgroups](../../user/group/subgroups/index.md) will be inherited recursively.
## Priority of environment variables
{: #priority-of-variables}
Variables of different types can take precedence over other
variables, depending on where they are defined.
The order of precedence for variables is (from highest to lowest):
1. [Trigger variables](../triggers/README.md#making-use-of-trigger-variables) or [scheduled pipeline variables](../../user/project/pipelines/schedules.md#making-use-of-scheduled-pipeline-variables).
1. Project-level [variables](#creating-a-custom-environment-variable) or [protected variables](#protected-variables).
1. Group-level [variables](#group-level-variables) or [protected variables](#protected-variables).
1. YAML-defined [job-level variables](../yaml/README.md#variables).
1. YAML-defined [global variables](../yaml/README.md#variables).
1. [Deployment variables](#deployment-variables).
1. [Predefined environment variables](predefined_variables.md).
For example, if you define:
- `API_TOKEN=secure` as a project variable.
- `API_TOKEN=yaml` in your `.gitlab-ci.yml`.
Once you set them, they will be available for all subsequent pipelines. You can also
[protect your variables](#protected-variables).
`API_TOKEN` will take the value `secure` as the project
variables take precedence over those defined in `.gitlab-ci.yml`.
### Protected variables
## Unsupported variables
There are cases where some variables cannot be used in the context of a
`.gitlab-ci.yml` definition (for example under `script`). Read more
about which variables are [not supported](where_variables_can_be_used.md).
## Advanced use
### Protected environment variables
{: #protected-variables}
> Introduced in GitLab 9.3.
Variables could be protected. Whenever a variable is
Variables can be protected. Whenever a variable is
protected, it would only be securely passed to pipelines running on the
[protected branches] or [protected tags]. The other pipelines would not get any
protected variables.
......@@ -128,13 +344,8 @@ Protected variables can be added by going to your project's
Once you set them, they will be available for all subsequent pipelines.
### Manually-specified variables
> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce/issues/44059) in GitLab 10.8.
Variables can be specified for a single pipeline run when a [manual pipeline](../pipelines.md#manually-executing-pipelines) is created.
## Deployment variables
### Deployment environment variables
{: #deployment-variables}
> Introduced in GitLab 8.15.
......@@ -147,7 +358,7 @@ the project services that you are using to learn which variables they define.
An example project service that defines deployment variables is the
[Kubernetes integration](../../user/project/clusters/index.md#deployment-variables).
## Auto DevOps application variables
### Auto DevOps environment variables
> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce/issues/49056) in GitLab 11.7.
......@@ -164,6 +375,113 @@ CAUTION: **Caution:**
Variables with multiline values are not currently supported due to
limitations with the current Auto DevOps scripting environment.
### Environment variables triggered manually
> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce/issues/44059) in GitLab 10.8.
[Manually triggered pipelines](../pipelines.md#manually-executing-pipelines) allow you to override the value of a current variable.
For instance, suppose you added a
[custom variable `$TEST`](#creating-a-custom-variable)
as exemplified above and you want to override it in a manual pipeline.
Navigate to your project's **CI/CD > Pipelines** and click **Run pipeline**.
Choose the branch you want to run the pipeline for, then add a new variable
pair through the UI:
![Override variable value](img/override_variable_manual_pipeline.png)
The Runner will override the value previously set and use the custom
value you set for this specific pipeline:
![Manually overridden variable output](img/override_value_via_manual_pipeline_output.png)
## Environment variables expressions
{: #variables-expressions}
> Introduced in GitLab 10.7.
It is possible to use variables expressions with only / except policies in
`.gitlab-ci.yml`. By using this approach you can limit what jobs are going to
be created within a pipeline after pushing a code to GitLab.
This is particularly useful in combination with variables and triggered
pipeline variables.
```yaml
deploy:
script: cap staging deploy
environment: staging
only:
variables:
- $RELEASE == "staging"
- $STAGING
```
Each expression provided is going to be evaluated before creating a pipeline.
If any of the conditions in `variables` evaluates to truth when using `only`,
a new job is going to be created. If any of the expressions evaluates to truth
when `except` is being used, a job is not going to be created.
This follows usual rules for [`only` / `except` policies](../yaml/README.md#onlyexcept-advanced).
### Supported syntax
Below you can find supported syntax reference:
1. Equality matching using a string
> Example: `$VARIABLE == "some value"`
You can use equality operator `==` to compare a variable content to a
string. We support both, double quotes and single quotes to define a string
value, so both `$VARIABLE == "some value"` and `$VARIABLE == 'some value'`
are supported. `"some value" == $VARIABLE` is correct too.
1. Checking for an undefined value
> Example: `$VARIABLE == null`
It sometimes happens that you want to check whether a variable is defined
or not. To do that, you can compare a variable to `null` keyword, like
`$VARIABLE == null`. This expression is going to evaluate to truth if
variable is not defined.
1. Checking for an empty variable
> Example: `$VARIABLE == ""`
If you want to check whether a variable is defined, but is empty, you can
simply compare it against an empty string, like `$VAR == ''`.
1. Comparing two variables
> Example: `$VARIABLE_1 == $VARIABLE_2`
It is possible to compare two variables. This is going to compare values
of these variables.
1. Variable presence check
> Example: `$STAGING`
If you only want to create a job when there is some variable present,
which means that it is defined and non-empty, you can simply use
variable name as an expression, like `$STAGING`. If `$STAGING` variable
is defined, and is non empty, expression will evaluate to truth.
`$STAGING` value needs to a string, with length higher than zero.
Variable that contains only whitespace characters is not an empty variable.
1. Pattern matching _(added in 11.0)_
> Example: `$VARIABLE =~ /^content.*/`
It is possible perform pattern matching against a variable and regular
expression. Expression like this evaluates to truth if matches are found.
Pattern matching is case-sensitive by default. Use `i` flag modifier, like
`/pattern/i` to make a pattern case-insensitive.
## Debug tracing
> Introduced in GitLab Runner 1.7.
......@@ -329,184 +647,6 @@ MIIFQzCCBCugAwIBAgIRAL/ElDjuf15xwja1ZnCocWAwDQYJKoZIhvcNAQELBQAw'
...
```
## Using the CI variables in your job scripts
All variables are set as environment variables in the build environment, and
they are accessible with normal methods that are used to access such variables.
In most cases `bash` or `sh` is used to execute the job script.
To access environment variables, use the syntax for your Runner's [shell][shellexecutors].
| Shell | Usage |
|----------------------|-----------------|
| bash/sh | `$variable` |
| windows batch | `%variable%` |
| PowerShell | `$env:variable` |
To access environment variables in bash, prefix the variable name with (`$`):
```yaml
job_name:
script:
- echo $CI_JOB_ID
```
To access environment variables in **Windows Batch**, surround the variable
with (`%`):
```yaml
job_name:
script:
- echo %CI_JOB_ID%
```
To access environment variables in a **Windows PowerShell** environment, prefix
the variable name with (`$env:`):
```yaml
job_name:
script:
- echo $env:CI_JOB_ID
```
You can also list all environment variables with the `export` command,
but be aware that this will also expose the values of all the variables
you set, in the job log:
```yaml
job_name:
script:
- export
```
Example values:
```bash
export CI_JOB_ID="50"
export CI_COMMIT_SHA="1ecfd275763eff1d6b4844ea3168962458c9f27a"
export CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA="1ecfd275"
export CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME="master"
export CI_REPOSITORY_URL="https://gitlab-ci-token:abcde-1234ABCD5678ef@example.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce.git"
export CI_COMMIT_TAG="1.0.0"
export CI_JOB_NAME="spec:other"
export CI_JOB_STAGE="test"
export CI_JOB_MANUAL="true"
export CI_JOB_TRIGGERED="true"
export CI_JOB_TOKEN="abcde-1234ABCD5678ef"
export CI_PIPELINE_ID="1000"
export CI_PIPELINE_IID="10"
export CI_PAGES_DOMAIN="gitlab.io"
export CI_PAGES_URL="https://gitlab-org.gitlab.io/gitlab-ce"
export CI_PROJECT_ID="34"
export CI_PROJECT_DIR="/builds/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce"
export CI_PROJECT_NAME="gitlab-ce"
export CI_PROJECT_NAMESPACE="gitlab-org"
export CI_PROJECT_PATH="gitlab-org/gitlab-ce"
export CI_PROJECT_URL="https://example.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce"
export CI_REGISTRY="registry.example.com"
export CI_REGISTRY_IMAGE="registry.example.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce"
export CI_RUNNER_ID="10"
export CI_RUNNER_DESCRIPTION="my runner"
export CI_RUNNER_TAGS="docker, linux"
export CI_SERVER="yes"
export CI_SERVER_NAME="GitLab"
export CI_SERVER_REVISION="70606bf"
export CI_SERVER_VERSION="8.9.0"
export CI_SERVER_VERSION_MAJOR="8"
export CI_SERVER_VERSION_MINOR="9"
export CI_SERVER_VERSION_PATCH="0"
export GITLAB_USER_ID="42"
export GITLAB_USER_EMAIL="user@example.com"
export CI_REGISTRY_USER="gitlab-ci-token"
export CI_REGISTRY_PASSWORD="longalfanumstring"
```
## Variables expressions
> Introduced in GitLab 10.7.
It is possible to use variables expressions with only / except policies in
`.gitlab-ci.yml`. By using this approach you can limit what jobs are going to
be created within a pipeline after pushing a code to GitLab.
This is particularly useful in combination with variables and triggered
pipeline variables.
```yaml
deploy:
script: cap staging deploy
environment: staging
only:
variables:
- $RELEASE == "staging"
- $STAGING
```
Each expression provided is going to be evaluated before creating a pipeline.
If any of the conditions in `variables` evaluates to truth when using `only`,
a new job is going to be created. If any of the expressions evaluates to truth
when `except` is being used, a job is not going to be created.
This follows usual rules for [`only` / `except` policies](../yaml/README.md#onlyexcept-advanced).
### Supported syntax
Below you can find supported syntax reference:
1. Equality matching using a string
> Example: `$VARIABLE == "some value"`
You can use equality operator `==` to compare a variable content to a
string. We support both, double quotes and single quotes to define a string
value, so both `$VARIABLE == "some value"` and `$VARIABLE == 'some value'`
are supported. `"some value" == $VARIABLE` is correct too.
1. Checking for an undefined value
> Example: `$VARIABLE == null`
It sometimes happens that you want to check whether a variable is defined
or not. To do that, you can compare a variable to `null` keyword, like
`$VARIABLE == null`. This expression is going to evaluate to truth if
variable is not defined.
1. Checking for an empty variable
> Example: `$VARIABLE == ""`
If you want to check whether a variable is defined, but is empty, you can
simply compare it against an empty string, like `$VAR == ''`.
1. Comparing two variables
> Example: `$VARIABLE_1 == $VARIABLE_2`
It is possible to compare two variables. This is going to compare values
of these variables.
1. Variable presence check
> Example: `$STAGING`
If you only want to create a job when there is some variable present,
which means that it is defined and non-empty, you can simply use
variable name as an expression, like `$STAGING`. If `$STAGING` variable
is defined, and is non empty, expression will evaluate to truth.
`$STAGING` value needs to a string, with length higher than zero.
Variable that contains only whitespace characters is not an empty variable.
1. Pattern matching _(added in 11.0)_
> Example: `$VARIABLE =~ /^content.*/`
It is possible perform pattern matching against a variable and regular
expression. Expression like this evaluates to truth if matches are found.
Pattern matching is case-sensitive by default. Use `i` flag modifier, like
`/pattern/i` to make a pattern case-insensitive.
[ce-13784]: https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce/issues/13784 "Simple protection of CI variables"
[eep]: https://about.gitlab.com/pricing/ "Available only in GitLab Premium"
[envs]: ../environments.md
......
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