gitlab-org--gitlab-foss/doc/ci/variables

Variables

When receiving a build from GitLab CI, the runner prepares the build environment. It starts by setting a list of predefined variables (Environment Variables) and a list of user-defined variables

The variables can be overwritten. They take precedence over each other in this order:

1. Secure variables
2. YAML-defined variables
3. Predefined variables

For example, if you define:

1. API_TOKEN=SECURE as Secure Variable
2. API_TOKEN=YAML as YAML-defined variable

The API_TOKEN will take the Secure Variable value: SECURE.

Predefined variables (Environment Variables)

Variable	Description
CI	Mark that build is executed in CI environment
GITLAB_CI	Mark that build is executed in GitLab CI environment
CI_SERVER	Mark that build is executed in CI environment
CI_SERVER_NAME	CI server that is used to coordinate builds
CI_SERVER_VERSION	Not yet defined
CI_SERVER_REVISION	Not yet defined
CI_BUILD_REF	The commit revision for which project is built
CI_BUILD_BEFORE_SHA	The first commit that were included in push request
CI_BUILD_REF_NAME	The branch or tag name for which project is built
CI_BUILD_ID	The unique id of the current build that GitLab CI uses internally
CI_BUILD_REPO	The URL to clone the Git repository
CI_PROJECT_ID	The unique id of the current project that GitLab CI uses internally
CI_PROJECT_DIR	The full path where the repository is cloned and where the build is ran

Example values:

export CI_BUILD_BEFORE_SHA="9df57456fa9de2a6d335ca5edf9750ed812b9df0"
export CI_BUILD_ID="50"
export CI_BUILD_REF="1ecfd275763eff1d6b4844ea3168962458c9f27a"
export CI_BUILD_REF_NAME="master"
export CI_BUILD_REPO="https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce.git"
export CI_PROJECT_DIR="/builds/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce"
export CI_PROJECT_ID="34"
export CI_SERVER="yes"
export CI_SERVER_NAME="GitLab CI"
export CI_SERVER_REVISION=""
export CI_SERVER_VERSION=""

YAML-defined variables

This feature requires GitLab Runner 0.5.0 or higher

GitLab CI allows you to add to .gitlab-ci.yml variables that are set in build environment. The variables are stored in repository and are meant to store non-sensitive project configuration, ie. RAILS_ENV or DATABASE_URL.

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

These variables can be later used in all executed commands and scripts.

The YAML-defined variables are also set to all created service containers, thus allowing to fine tune them.

More information about Docker integration can be found in Using Docker Images.

User-defined variables (Secure Variables)

This feature requires GitLab Runner 0.4.0 or higher

GitLab CI allows you to define per-project Secure Variables that are set in build environment. The secure variables are stored out of the repository (the .gitlab-ci.yml). These variables are securely stored in GitLab CI database and are hidden in the build log. It's desired method to use them for storing passwords, secret keys or whatever you want.

Secure Variables can added by going to Project > Variables > Add Variable.

They will be available for all subsequent builds.

Use variables

The variables are set as environment variables in build environment and are accessible with normal methods that are used to access such variables. In most cases the bash is used to execute build script. To access variables (predefined and user-defined) in bash environment, prefix the variable name with $:

job_name:
  script:
    - echo $CI_BUILD_ID

You can also list all environment variables with export command, but be aware that this will also expose value of all Secure Variables in build log:

job_name:
  script:
    - export