---
title: Use and manage variables
description: Dashboard variables allow you to alter specific components of cells’ queries without having to edit the queries, making it easy to interact with your dashboard cells and explore your data.
url: https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb/cloud/visualize-data/variables/
estimated_tokens: 1607
product: InfluxDB Cloud (TSM)
version: cloud
---

# Use and manage variables

Dashboard variables let you alter specific components of cells’ queries without having to edit the queries, making it easy to interact with your dashboard cells and explore your data.

Variables are scoped by organization.

## Use dashboard variables

Both [predefined dashboard variables](#predefined-dashboard-variables) and [custom dashboard variables](#custom-dashboard-variables) are stored in a `v` record associated with each dashboard. Reference each variable using dot-notation (e.g. `v.variableName`).

```js
from(bucket: v.bucket)
    |> range(start: v.timeRangeStart, stop: v.timeRangeStop)
    |> filter(fn: (r) => r._measurement == v.measurement and r._field == v.field)
    |> aggregateWindow(every: v.windowPeriod, fn: mean)
```

When building Flux queries for dashboard cells, view available dashboard variables in the **Variables** tab next to the Functions tab.

![](/img/influxdb/2-0-variables-data-explorer-view.png)

Click a variable name to add it to your query and select a value from the **Value** dropdown.

## Link to dashboards with variables defined in the URL

When you apply a variable to your dashboard, `&vars[variable_name]=value` is appended to the URL so you can share the link with the variables included.

## Predefined dashboard variables

The InfluxDB user interface (UI) provides the following predefined dashboard variables:

#### v.timeRangeStart

Specifies the beginning of the queried time range. This variable is typically used to define the [`start` parameter](/flux/v0/stdlib/universe/range#start) of the `range()` function.

The **Time Range** selector defines the value of this variable.

#### v.timeRangeStop

Specifies the end of the queried time range. This variable is typically used to define the [`stop` parameter](/flux/v0/stdlib/universe/range#stop) of the `range()` function.

The **Time Range** selector defines the value of this variable. It defaults to `now`.

#### v.windowPeriod

Specifies the period of windowed data. This variable is typically used to define the `every` or `period` parameters of the [`window()` function](/flux/v0/stdlib/universe/window) in data aggregation operations.

The value of this variable is calculated by analyzing the duration of the Flux query it is used within. Queries that fetch data from a longer time range will have a larger `v.windowPeriod` duration.

## Custom dashboard variables

Create, manage, and use custom dashboard variables in the InfluxDB user interface (UI).

### [Create a variable](/influxdb/cloud/visualize-data/variables/create-variable/)

Create dashboard variables in the Data Explorer, from the Organization page, or import a variable.

### [Update a variable](/influxdb/cloud/visualize-data/variables/update-variable/)

Update a dashboard variable in the InfluxDB user interface.

### [View variables](/influxdb/cloud/visualize-data/variables/view-variables/)

View dashboard variables in the InfluxDB user interface.

### [Export a variable](/influxdb/cloud/visualize-data/variables/export-variable/)

Export a dashboard variable in the InfluxDB user interface.

### [Delete a variable](/influxdb/cloud/visualize-data/variables/delete-variable/)

Delete a dashboard variable in the InfluxDB user interface.

### [Variable types](/influxdb/cloud/visualize-data/variables/variable-types/)

Overview of the types of dashboard variables available in InfluxDB

### [Common variable queries](/influxdb/cloud/visualize-data/variables/common-variables/)

Useful queries to use to populate values in common dashboard variable use cases.

[variables](/influxdb/cloud/tags/variables/)