---
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# GitLab CI/CD 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:

- [Predefined environment variables](#predefined-environment-variables).
- Other 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](#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).

For example, you define:

- `API_TOKEN=secure` as a project variable.
- `API_TOKEN=yaml` in your `.gitlab-ci.yml`.

`API_TOKEN` will take the value `secure` as the project variables take precedence over those defined
in `.gitlab-ci.yml`.

## 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).

## Predefined environment variables

See [full reference of predefined environment variables](predefined_variables.md).

## `.gitlab-ci.yml` defined variables

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
build environment. The variables are hence saved in the repository, and they

are meant to store non-sensitive project configuration. For example, `RAILS_ENV` or

`DATABASE_URL`.

For example, if you set the variable below globally (not inside a job), it will
be used in all executed commands and scripts:

```yaml
variables:
  DATABASE_URL: "postgres://postgres@postgres/my_database"
```

The YAML-defined variables are also set to all created
[service containers](../docker/using_docker_images.md), thus allowing to fine
tune them.

Variables can be defined at a global level, but also at a job level. To turn off

global defined variables in your job, define an empty hash:

```yaml
job_name:

  variables: {}

```

You are able to use other variables inside your variable definition (or escape them with `$$`):

```yaml
variables:
  LS_CMD: 'ls $FLAGS $$TMP_DIR'
  FLAGS: '-al'
script:
  - 'eval $LS_CMD'  # will execute 'ls -al $TMP_DIR'
```

## 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.

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

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

use for storing things like passwords, SSH keys, and credentials.

Project-level variables can be added by:

1. Navigating to your project's **Settings > CI/CD** page.
1. Inputing variable keys and values in the **Environment variables** section.

Group-level variables can be added by:

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.

Once you set them, they will be available for all subsequent pipelines. You can also

[protect your variables](#protected-variables).

### Protected variables

> Introduced in GitLab 9.3.

Variables could 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.

Protected variables can be added by going to your project's

**Settings > CI/CD**, then finding the section called

**Variables**, and check "Protected".

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

> Introduced in GitLab 8.15.

[Project services](../../user/project/integrations/project_services.md) that are

responsible for deployment configuration may define their own variables that
are set in the build environment. These variables are only defined for

[deployment jobs](../environments.md). Please consult the documentation of

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

> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce/issues/49056) in GitLab 11.7.

You can configure [Auto DevOps](../../topics/autodevops/index.md) to
pass CI variables to the running application by prefixing the key of the
variable with `K8S_SECRET_`.

These [prefixed
variables](../../topics/autodevops/index.md#application-secret-variables) will
then be available as environment variables on the running application
container.

CAUTION: **Caution:**

Variables with multiline values are not currently supported due to

limitations with the current Auto DevOps scripting environment.

## Debug tracing

> Introduced in GitLab Runner 1.7.

CAUTION: **Warning:**
Enabling debug tracing can have severe security implications. The

output **will** contain the content of all your variables and any other

secrets! The output **will** be uploaded to the GitLab server and made visible
in job traces!

By default, GitLab Runner hides most of the details of what it is doing when

processing a job. This behavior keeps job traces short, and prevents secrets

from being leaked into the trace unless your script writes them to the screen.

If a job isn't working as expected, this can make the problem difficult to
investigate; in these cases, you can enable debug tracing in `.gitlab-ci.yml`.
Available on GitLab Runner v1.7+, this feature enables the shell's execution

trace, resulting in a verbose job trace listing all commands that were run,

variables that were set, etc.

Before enabling this, you should ensure jobs are visible to

[team members only](../../user/permissions.md#project-features). You should

also [erase](../pipelines.md#accessing-individual-jobs) all generated job traces

before making them visible again.

To enable debug traces, set the `CI_DEBUG_TRACE` variable to `true`:

```yaml

job_name:

  variables:
    CI_DEBUG_TRACE: "true"
```

Example truncated output with debug trace set to true:

```bash
...

export CI_SERVER_TLS_CA_FILE="/builds/gitlab-examples/ci-debug-trace.tmp/CI_SERVER_TLS_CA_FILE"
if [[ -d "/builds/gitlab-examples/ci-debug-trace/.git" ]]; then
  echo $'\''\x1b[32;1mFetching changes...\x1b[0;m'\''
  $'\''cd'\'' "/builds/gitlab-examples/ci-debug-trace"
  $'\''git'\'' "config" "fetch.recurseSubmodules" "false"
  $'\''rm'\'' "-f" ".git/index.lock"
  $'\''git'\'' "clean" "-ffdx"
  $'\''git'\'' "reset" "--hard"
  $'\''git'\'' "remote" "set-url" "origin" "https://gitlab-ci-token:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@example.com/gitlab-examples/ci-debug-trace.git"
  $'\''git'\'' "fetch" "origin" "--prune" "+refs/heads/*:refs/remotes/origin/*" "+refs/tags/*:refs/tags/*"
else
  $'\''mkdir'\'' "-p" "/builds/gitlab-examples/ci-debug-trace.tmp/git-template"
  $'\''rm'\'' "-r" "-f" "/builds/gitlab-examples/ci-debug-trace"
  $'\''git'\'' "config" "-f" "/builds/gitlab-examples/ci-debug-trace.tmp/git-template/config" "fetch.recurseSubmodules" "false"
  echo $'\''\x1b[32;1mCloning repository...\x1b[0;m'\''
  $'\''git'\'' "clone" "--no-checkout" "https://gitlab-ci-token:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@example.com/gitlab-examples/ci-debug-trace.git" "/builds/gitlab-examples/ci-debug-trace" "--template" "/builds/gitlab-examples/ci-debug-trace.tmp/git-template"
  $'\''cd'\'' "/builds/gitlab-examples/ci-debug-trace"
fi
echo $'\''\x1b[32;1mChecking out dd648b2e as master...\x1b[0;m'\''
$'\''git'\'' "checkout" "-f" "-q" "dd648b2e48ce6518303b0bb580b2ee32fadaf045"
'
+++ hostname
++ echo 'Running on runner-8a2f473d-project-1796893-concurrent-0 via runner-8a2f473d-machine-1480971377-317a7d0f-digital-ocean-4gb...'
Running on runner-8a2f473d-project-1796893-concurrent-0 via runner-8a2f473d-machine-1480971377-317a7d0f-digital-ocean-4gb...
++ export CI=true
++ CI=true
++ export CI_DEBUG_TRACE=false
++ CI_DEBUG_TRACE=false

++ export CI_COMMIT_SHA=dd648b2e48ce6518303b0bb580b2ee32fadaf045
++ CI_COMMIT_SHA=dd648b2e48ce6518303b0bb580b2ee32fadaf045

++ export CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA=dd648b2e
++ CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA=dd648b2e

++ export CI_COMMIT_BEFORE_SHA=dd648b2e48ce6518303b0bb580b2ee32fadaf045
++ CI_COMMIT_BEFORE_SHA=dd648b2e48ce6518303b0bb580b2ee32fadaf045
++ export CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME=master
++ CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME=master
++ export CI_JOB_ID=7046507
++ CI_JOB_ID=7046507
++ export CI_REPOSITORY_URL=https://gitlab-ci-token:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@example.com/gitlab-examples/ci-debug-trace.git
++ CI_REPOSITORY_URL=https://gitlab-ci-token:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@example.com/gitlab-examples/ci-debug-trace.git
++ export CI_JOB_TOKEN=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
++ CI_JOB_TOKEN=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

++ export CI_PROJECT_ID=1796893
++ CI_PROJECT_ID=1796893
++ export CI_PROJECT_DIR=/builds/gitlab-examples/ci-debug-trace
++ CI_PROJECT_DIR=/builds/gitlab-examples/ci-debug-trace
++ export CI_SERVER=yes
++ CI_SERVER=yes
++ export 'CI_SERVER_NAME=GitLab CI'
++ CI_SERVER_NAME='GitLab CI'
++ export CI_SERVER_VERSION=
++ CI_SERVER_VERSION=

++ export CI_SERVER_VERSION_MAJOR=
++ CI_SERVER_VERSION_MAJOR=
++ export CI_SERVER_VERSION_MINOR=
++ CI_SERVER_VERSION_MINOR=
++ export CI_SERVER_VERSION_PATCH=
++ CI_SERVER_VERSION_PATCH=

++ export CI_SERVER_REVISION=
++ CI_SERVER_REVISION=
++ export GITLAB_CI=true
++ GITLAB_CI=true
++ export CI=true
++ CI=true
++ export GITLAB_CI=true
++ GITLAB_CI=true

++ export CI_JOB_ID=7046507
++ CI_JOB_ID=7046507
++ export CI_JOB_TOKEN=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
++ CI_JOB_TOKEN=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
++ export CI_COMMIT_REF=dd648b2e48ce6518303b0bb580b2ee32fadaf045
++ CI_COMMIT_REF=dd648b2e48ce6518303b0bb580b2ee32fadaf045
++ export CI_COMMIT_BEFORE_SHA=dd648b2e48ce6518303b0bb580b2ee32fadaf045
++ CI_COMMIT_BEFORE_SHA=dd648b2e48ce6518303b0bb580b2ee32fadaf045
++ export CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME=master
++ CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME=master
++ export CI_COMMIT_NAME=debug_trace
++ CI_JOB_NAME=debug_trace
++ export CI_JOB_STAGE=test
++ CI_JOB_STAGE=test

++ export CI_SERVER_NAME=GitLab
++ CI_SERVER_NAME=GitLab
++ export CI_SERVER_VERSION=8.14.3-ee
++ CI_SERVER_VERSION=8.14.3-ee
++ export CI_SERVER_REVISION=82823
++ CI_SERVER_REVISION=82823

++ export CI_PAGES_DOMAIN=gitlab.io
++ CI_PAGES_DOMAIN=gitlab.io
++ export CI_PAGES_URL=https://gitlab-examples.gitlab.io/ci-debug-trace
++ CI_PAGES_URL=https://gitlab-examples.gitlab.io/ci-debug-trace

++ export CI_PROJECT_ID=17893
++ CI_PROJECT_ID=17893
++ export CI_PROJECT_NAME=ci-debug-trace
++ CI_PROJECT_NAME=ci-debug-trace
++ export CI_PROJECT_PATH=gitlab-examples/ci-debug-trace
++ CI_PROJECT_PATH=gitlab-examples/ci-debug-trace
++ export CI_PROJECT_NAMESPACE=gitlab-examples
++ CI_PROJECT_NAMESPACE=gitlab-examples
++ export CI_PROJECT_URL=https://example.com/gitlab-examples/ci-debug-trace
++ CI_PROJECT_URL=https://example.com/gitlab-examples/ci-debug-trace
++ export CI_PIPELINE_ID=52666
++ CI_PIPELINE_ID=52666

++ export CI_PIPELINE_IID=123
++ CI_PIPELINE_IID=123

++ export CI_RUNNER_ID=1337
++ CI_RUNNER_ID=1337
++ export CI_RUNNER_DESCRIPTION=shared-runners-manager-1.example.com
++ CI_RUNNER_DESCRIPTION=shared-runners-manager-1.example.com

++ export 'CI_RUNNER_TAGS=shared, docker, linux, ruby, mysql, postgres, mongo'
++ CI_RUNNER_TAGS='shared, docker, linux, ruby, mysql, postgres, mongo'

++ export CI_REGISTRY=registry.example.com
++ CI_REGISTRY=registry.example.com
++ export CI_DEBUG_TRACE=true
++ CI_DEBUG_TRACE=true
++ export GITLAB_USER_ID=42
++ GITLAB_USER_ID=42
++ export GITLAB_USER_EMAIL=user@example.com

++ GITLAB_USER_EMAIL=user@example.com

++ export VERY_SECURE_VARIABLE=imaverysecurevariable
++ VERY_SECURE_VARIABLE=imaverysecurevariable
++ mkdir -p /builds/gitlab-examples/ci-debug-trace.tmp
++ echo -n '-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----
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

[protected branches]: ../../user/project/protected_branches.md
[protected tags]: ../../user/project/protected_tags.md

[shellexecutors]: https://docs.gitlab.com/runner/executors/

[triggered]: ../triggers/README.md

[gitlab-deploy-token]: ../../user/project/deploy_tokens/index.md#gitlab-deploy-token

[registry]: ../../user/project/container_registry.md

[dependent-repositories]: ../../user/project/new_ci_build_permissions_model.md#dependent-repositories