---
title: Environment Variables
description: Configuration and management of environment variables in integration flows
documentId: ipaas-legacy-variables
locale: en-US
---

# Environment Variables

**Environment variables** are key-value pairs used to configure and customize application behavior.
In general, they help to:

* Manage settings that may vary between different environments (development, testing, production).
* Keep sensitive information secure: API keys, database credentials, etc.
* Facilitate changes and updates.

Information registered in environment variables can be used in any *step* of the integration flow immediately after registration.

<Callout type="NOTE" title="NOTE">
Environment variables are not shared between different integration flows.
You are only allowed to register environment variables for the current integration flow.
</Callout>

## Creating an environment variable

To create an environment variable, follow the steps below:

<Steps>
  <Step>
  Click on the ![Environment Variables](https://creative-ball-51b3fc85c0.media.strapiapp.com/environment_Variables_Icon_18beb2bb4c.png) icon in the editing menu.
  </Step>
  <Step>
  Click **+ ADD A NEW VARIABLE** if the folder is empty. Otherwise, click the ![More](https://creative-ball-51b3fc85c0.media.strapiapp.com/more_Icon_01c57e0f48.png) icon to the right of the last variable displayed on the screen.
  </Step>
  <Step>
  **Fill in the fields**: 

   * **Type**: variable type, which can be *String, Number, Boolean* and *Double*.

   * **Variable**: variable name. Registering the same variable more than once is not allowed. If you leave this field blank, you will not be able to view the variable in the *steps* configuration.

   * **Value**: variable value. The variable can be used even if this field is left blank. However, if the variable requires a value to be executed, an error will occur in the logs during the integration flow execution.
  </Step>
  <Step>
  **Save the variable**: click **SAVE**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Callout type="NOTE" title="NOTE">
It is mandatory to fill in the **Type** and **Variable** fields to save it.
</Callout>

![Environment variables in Diagram](https://creative-ball-51b3fc85c0.media.strapiapp.com/diagram_env_variables_b4b6e0d139.gif)

## Managing environment variables

* To **edit** the inserted information, simply change it in the desired fields and save.
  If you edit a variable already in use, you must also change it in the *step* that is using it.
  In this case, you will see an alert icon in the *step* indicating that you need to make this change.

* To **delete** a specific variable from the folder, click on the trash icon to the right of the variable line you want to delete.

<Callout type="WARNING" title="WARNING">
By clicking **DELETE**, you will delete **all** environment variables from the integration flow.
</Callout>