Variable types

Variable types determine how a variable’s list of possible values is populated. The following variable types are available:

• Map
• Query
• CSV

Map

Map variables use a list of key value pairs in CSV format to map keys to specific values. Keys populate the variable’s value list in the InfluxDB user interface (UI), but values are used when actually processing the query.

The most common use case for map variables is aliasing simple, human-readable keys to complex values.

Map variable CSV example

Juanito MacNeil,"5TKl6l8i4idg15Fxxe4P"
Astrophel Chaudhary,"bDhZbuVj5RV94NcFXZPm"
Ochieng Benes,"YIhg6SoMKRUH8FMlHs3V"
Mila Emile,"o61AhpOGr5aO3cYVArC0"

Query

Query variable values are populated using the _value column of a Flux query.

Query variable example

// List all buckets
buckets()
    |> rename(columns: {"name": "_value"})
    |> keep(columns: ["_value"])

For examples of dashboard variable queries, see Common variable queries.

CSV

CSV variables use a CSV-formatted list to populate variable values. A common use case is when the list of potential values is static and cannot be queried from InfluxDB.

CSV variable examples

value1, value2, value3, value4

value1
value2
value3
value4