Variables

A variable puts a value chosen above the grid into the queries, titles, and links of every panel. One dashboard then serves every service, host, or environment, without a copy for each.

Add a variable

Open the editor, select Settings → Variables, and add a variable:

Field	Rule
Name	The name used in queries, such as `service`. Use letters, digits, and `_`, starting with a letter or `_`: other names are not replaced.
Label	The text shown above the selector.
Type	Where the values come from. See Types.
Query / options	The query or the values, depending on the type.
Multi	Several values can be chosen at once.
Include all	Adds All, which stands for every value of the list.
Hide	None shows the selector, Label hides its label, Variable hides the selector.
Refresh	When a query variable reads its values again: Never, On load, or on each change of the Time range.

Save the dashboard to keep the variable.

Types

Type	Values
Query	Read from the data. See Query variables.
Custom	A fixed list, entered comma-separated, for example `prod, staging, dev`.
Text	Whatever the viewer types in a box above the grid.
Constant	A fixed value kept in the dashboard model. It never shows above the grid.
Interval, Data source	A list kept in the dashboard model, for example one that came with imported JSON.

Query variables

A query variable reads its values in the current time range. Choose the Query type:

Query type	Fields	Values
Label values	Metric and Label, for example `http_requests_total` and `service`.	The values of the label on the series of the metric, across every metrics stream that holds it.
Classic query	An expression such as `label_values(http_requests_total, service)`.	The same as Label values.
SQL	Stream name, Stream type, and an SQL statement.	The values of the first column.

The first value becomes the default. A query can use another variable, for example an SQL statement with WHERE environment = '$env', so choosing an environment narrows the services.

Use a variable

Write $name or ${name} in a query, a panel title, a text element, or a link. The braces are needed when letters follow the name, for example ${service}_errors. A variable with several values gives them joined with commas; add a format to change that:

Syntax	Result for `checkout` and `payment`
`${service}`	`checkout,payment`
`${service:csv}`	`checkout,payment`
`${service:pipe}`	`checkout\|payment`
`${service:regex}`	`checkout\|payment`, each value escaped for a regular expression.
`${service:sqlstring}`	`'checkout','payment'`, quoted for SQL, for example in `IN (${service:sqlstring})`.
`${service:json}`	`["checkout","payment"]`

For example, a PromQL panel sum(rate(http_requests_total{service=~"${service:regex}"}[5m])) follows the selected services.

Values in the address

The chosen values are kept in the address of the dashboard as var-<name>=<value>, repeated for each value of a multi-value variable. Copy the address, or build a link with these parameters, to open the dashboard with the same choice. A data link can pass the variables on as well.

Repeat panels by a variable

On the Panel tab of a panel, choose a Repeat variable. The dashboard then draws one copy of the panel for each selected value, with the variable set to that value in the copy. Choose the Repeat direction: Horizontal, Vertical, or Grid, and Max per row. Only the original panel is saved; the copies follow the selection.

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Add a variable

Types

Query variables

Use a variable

Values in the address

Repeat panels by a variable

​Add a variable

​Types

​Query variables

​Use a variable

​Values in the address

​Repeat panels by a variable

Add a variable

Types

Query variables

Use a variable

Values in the address

Repeat panels by a variable