GitHub Actions Variables

Use the REST API to interact with variables in GitHub Actions.

About variables in GitHub Actions

You can use the REST API to create, update, delete, and retrieve information about variables that can be used in workflows in GitHub Actions. Variables allow you to store non-sensitive information, such as a username, in your repository, repository environments, or organization.

These endpoints are available for authenticated users, OAuth Apps, and GitHub Apps. Access tokens require repo scope for private repositories and public_repo scope for public repositories. GitHub Apps must have the actions_variables/environments/organization_actions_variables permission to use these endpoints. Authenticated users must have collaborator access to a repository to create, update, or read variables.

List organization variables

Works with GitHub Apps

Lists all organization variables. You must authenticate using an access token with the admin:org scope to use this endpoint. GitHub Apps must have the organization_actions_variables:read organization permission to use this endpoint.

Parameters for "List organization variables"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
`accept`string Setting to `application/vnd.github+json` is recommended.
Path parameters
Name, Type, Description
`org`stringRequired The organization name. The name is not case sensitive.
Query parameters
Name, Type, Description
`per_page`integer The number of results per page (max 30). Default: `10`
`page`integer Page number of the results to fetch. Default: `1`

HTTP response status codes for "List organization variables"

Status code	Description
`200`	OK

Code samples for "List organization variables"

get/orgs/{org}/actions/variables

curl -L \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>"\
  -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28" \
  https://api.github.com/orgs/ORG/actions/variables

Response

Status: 200

{
  "total_count": 3,
  "variables": [
    {
      "name": "USERNAME",
      "value": "octocat",
      "created_at": "2019-08-10T14:59:22Z",
      "updated_at": "2020-01-10T14:59:22Z",
      "visibility": "private"
    },
    {
      "name": "ACTIONS_RUNNER_DEBUG",
      "value": true,
      "created_at": "2019-08-10T14:59:22Z",
      "updated_at": "2020-01-10T14:59:22Z",
      "visibility": "all"
    },
    {
      "name": "ADMIN_EMAIL",
      "value": "octocat@github.com",
      "created_at": "2019-08-10T14:59:22Z",
      "updated_at": "2020-01-10T14:59:22Z",
      "visibility": "selected",
      "selected_repositories_url": "https://api.github.com/orgs/octo-org/actions/variables/ADMIN_EMAIL/repositories"
    }
  ]
}

Create an organization variable

Works with GitHub Apps

Creates an organization variable that you can reference in a GitHub Actions workflow. You must authenticate using an access token with the admin:org scope to use this endpoint. GitHub Apps must have the organization_actions_variables:write organization permission to use this endpoint.

Parameters for "Create an organization variable"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
`accept`string Setting to `application/vnd.github+json` is recommended.
Path parameters
Name, Type, Description
`org`stringRequired The organization name. The name is not case sensitive.
Body parameters
Name, Type, Description
`name`stringRequired The name of the variable.
`value`stringRequired The value of the variable.
`visibility`stringRequired The type of repositories in the organization that can access the variable. `selected` means only the repositories specified by `selected_repository_ids` can access the variable. Can be one of: `all`, `private`, `selected`
`selected_repository_ids`array of integers An array of repository ids that can access the organization variable. You can only provide a list of repository ids when the `visibility` is set to `selected`.

HTTP response status codes for "Create an organization variable"

Status code	Description
`201`	Response when creating a variable

Code samples for "Create an organization variable"

post/orgs/{org}/actions/variables

curl -L \
  -X POST \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>"\
  -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28" \
  https://api.github.com/orgs/ORG/actions/variables \
  -d '{"name":"USERNAME","value":"octocat","visibility":"selected","selected_repository_ids":[1296269,1296280]}'

Response when creating a variable

Status: 201

Get an organization variable

Works with GitHub Apps

Gets a specific variable in an organization. You must authenticate using an access token with the admin:org scope to use this endpoint. GitHub Apps must have the organization_actions_variables:read organization permission to use this endpoint.

Parameters for "Get an organization variable"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
`accept`string Setting to `application/vnd.github+json` is recommended.
Path parameters
Name, Type, Description
`org`stringRequired The organization name. The name is not case sensitive.
`name`stringRequired The name of the variable.

HTTP response status codes for "Get an organization variable"

Status code	Description
`200`	OK

Code samples for "Get an organization variable"

get/orgs/{org}/actions/variables/{name}

curl -L \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>"\
  -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28" \
  https://api.github.com/orgs/ORG/actions/variables/NAME

Response

Status: 200

{
  "name": "USERNAME",
  "value": "octocat",
  "created_at": "2019-08-10T14:59:22Z",
  "updated_at": "2020-01-10T14:59:22Z",
  "visibility": "selected",
  "selected_repositories_url": "https://api.github.com/orgs/octo-org/actions/variables/USERNAME/repositories"
}

Update an organization variable

Works with GitHub Apps

Updates an organization variable that you can reference in a GitHub Actions workflow. You must authenticate using an access token with the admin:org scope to use this endpoint. GitHub Apps must have the organization_actions_variables:write organization permission to use this endpoint.

Parameters for "Update an organization variable"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
`accept`string Setting to `application/vnd.github+json` is recommended.
Path parameters
Name, Type, Description
`org`stringRequired The organization name. The name is not case sensitive.
`name`stringRequired The name of the variable.
Body parameters
Name, Type, Description
`name`string The name of the variable.
`value`string The value of the variable.
`visibility`string The type of repositories in the organization that can access the variable. `selected` means only the repositories specified by `selected_repository_ids` can access the variable. Can be one of: `all`, `private`, `selected`
`selected_repository_ids`array of integers An array of repository ids that can access the organization variable. You can only provide a list of repository ids when the `visibility` is set to `selected`.

HTTP response status codes for "Update an organization variable"

Status code	Description
`204`	No Content

Code samples for "Update an organization variable"

patch/orgs/{org}/actions/variables/{name}

curl -L \
  -X PATCH \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>"\
  -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28" \
  https://api.github.com/orgs/ORG/actions/variables/NAME \
  -d '{"name":"USERNAME","value":"octocat","visibility":"selected","selected_repository_ids":[1296269,1296280]}'

Response

Status: 204

Delete an organization variable

Works with GitHub Apps

Deletes an organization variable using the variable name. You must authenticate using an access token with the admin:org scope to use this endpoint. GitHub Apps must have the organization_actions_variables:write organization permission to use this endpoint.

Parameters for "Delete an organization variable"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
`accept`string Setting to `application/vnd.github+json` is recommended.
Path parameters
Name, Type, Description
`org`stringRequired The organization name. The name is not case sensitive.
`name`stringRequired The name of the variable.

HTTP response status codes for "Delete an organization variable"

Status code	Description
`204`	No Content

Code samples for "Delete an organization variable"

delete/orgs/{org}/actions/variables/{name}

curl -L \
  -X DELETE \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>"\
  -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28" \
  https://api.github.com/orgs/ORG/actions/variables/NAME

Response

Status: 204

List selected repositories for an organization variable

Works with GitHub Apps

Lists all repositories that can access an organization variable that is available to selected repositories. You must authenticate using an access token with the admin:org scope to use this endpoint. GitHub Apps must have the organization_actions_variables:read organization permission to use this endpoint.

Parameters for "List selected repositories for an organization variable"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
`accept`string Setting to `application/vnd.github+json` is recommended.
Path parameters
Name, Type, Description
`org`stringRequired The organization name. The name is not case sensitive.
`name`stringRequired The name of the variable.
Query parameters
Name, Type, Description
`page`integer Page number of the results to fetch. Default: `1`
`per_page`integer The number of results per page (max 100). Default: `30`

HTTP response status codes for "List selected repositories for an organization variable"

Status code	Description
`200`	OK
`409`	Response when the visibility of the variable is not set to `selected`

Code samples for "List selected repositories for an organization variable"

get/orgs/{org}/actions/variables/{name}/repositories

curl -L \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>"\
  -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28" \
  https://api.github.com/orgs/ORG/actions/variables/NAME/repositories

Response

Status: 200

{
  "total_count": 1,
  "repositories": [
    {
      "id": 1296269,
      "node_id": "MDEwOlJlcG9zaXRvcnkxMjk2MjY5",
      "name": "Hello-World",
      "full_name": "octocat/Hello-World",
      "owner": {
        "login": "octocat",
        "id": 1,
        "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
        "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
        "gravatar_id": "",
        "url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
        "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
        "followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
        "following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
        "gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
        "starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
        "subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
        "organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
        "repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
        "events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
        "received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
        "type": "User",
        "site_admin": false
      },
      "private": false,
      "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World",
      "description": "This your first repo!",
      "fork": false,
      "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World",
      "archive_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/{archive_format}{/ref}",
      "assignees_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/assignees{/user}",
      "blobs_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/git/blobs{/sha}",
      "branches_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/branches{/branch}",
      "collaborators_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/collaborators{/collaborator}",
      "comments_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/comments{/number}",
      "commits_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits{/sha}",
      "compare_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/compare/{base}...{head}",
      "contents_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/contents/{+path}",
      "contributors_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/contributors",
      "deployments_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/deployments",
      "downloads_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/downloads",
      "events_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/events",
      "forks_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/forks",
      "git_commits_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/git/commits{/sha}",
      "git_refs_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/git/refs{/sha}",
      "git_tags_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/git/tags{/sha}",
      "git_url": "git:github.com/octocat/Hello-World.git",
      "issue_comment_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/issues/comments{/number}",
      "issue_events_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/issues/events{/number}",
      "issues_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/issues{/number}",
      "keys_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/keys{/key_id}",
      "labels_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/labels{/name}",
      "languages_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/languages",
      "merges_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/merges",
      "milestones_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/milestones{/number}",
      "notifications_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/notifications{?since,all,participating}",
      "pulls_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/pulls{/number}",
      "releases_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/releases{/id}",
      "ssh_url": "git@github.com:octocat/Hello-World.git",
      "stargazers_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/stargazers",
      "statuses_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/statuses/{sha}",
      "subscribers_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/subscribers",
      "subscription_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/subscription",
      "tags_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/tags",
      "teams_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/teams",
      "trees_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/git/trees{/sha}",
      "hooks_url": "http://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/hooks"
    }
  ]
}

Set selected repositories for an organization variable

Works with GitHub Apps

Replaces all repositories for an organization variable that is available to selected repositories. Organization variables that are available to selected repositories have their visibility field set to selected. You must authenticate using an access token with the admin:org scope to use this endpoint. GitHub Apps must have the organization_actions_variables:write organization permission to use this endpoint.

Parameters for "Set selected repositories for an organization variable"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
`accept`string Setting to `application/vnd.github+json` is recommended.
Path parameters
Name, Type, Description
`org`stringRequired The organization name. The name is not case sensitive.
`name`stringRequired The name of the variable.
Body parameters
Name, Type, Description
`selected_repository_ids`array of integersRequired The IDs of the repositories that can access the organization variable.

HTTP response status codes for "Set selected repositories for an organization variable"

Status code	Description
`204`	No Content
`409`	Response when the visibility of the variable is not set to `selected`

Code samples for "Set selected repositories for an organization variable"

put/orgs/{org}/actions/variables/{name}/repositories

curl -L \
  -X PUT \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>"\
  -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28" \
  https://api.github.com/orgs/ORG/actions/variables/NAME/repositories \
  -d '{"selected_repository_ids":[64780797]}'

Response

Status: 204

Add selected repository to an organization variable

Works with GitHub Apps

Adds a repository to an organization variable that is available to selected repositories. Organization variables that are available to selected repositories have their visibility field set to selected. You must authenticate using an access token with the admin:org scope to use this endpoint. GitHub Apps must have the organization_actions_variables:write organization permission to use this endpoint.

Parameters for "Add selected repository to an organization variable"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
`accept`string Setting to `application/vnd.github+json` is recommended.
Path parameters
Name, Type, Description
`org`stringRequired The organization name. The name is not case sensitive.
`name`stringRequired The name of the variable.
`repository_id`integerRequired

HTTP response status codes for "Add selected repository to an organization variable"

Status code	Description
`204`	No Content
`409`	Response when the visibility of the variable is not set to `selected`

Code samples for "Add selected repository to an organization variable"

put/orgs/{org}/actions/variables/{name}/repositories/{repository_id}

curl -L \
  -X PUT \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>"\
  -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28" \
  https://api.github.com/orgs/ORG/actions/variables/NAME/repositories/REPOSITORY_ID

Response

Status: 204

Remove selected repository from an organization variable

Works with GitHub Apps

Removes a repository from an organization variable that is available to selected repositories. Organization variables that are available to selected repositories have their visibility field set to selected. You must authenticate using an access token with the admin:org scope to use this endpoint. GitHub Apps must have the organization_actions_variables:write organization permission to use this endpoint.

Parameters for "Remove selected repository from an organization variable"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
`accept`string Setting to `application/vnd.github+json` is recommended.
Path parameters
Name, Type, Description
`org`stringRequired The organization name. The name is not case sensitive.
`name`stringRequired The name of the variable.
`repository_id`integerRequired

HTTP response status codes for "Remove selected repository from an organization variable"

Status code	Description
`204`	No Content
`409`	Response when the visibility of the variable is not set to `selected`

Code samples for "Remove selected repository from an organization variable"

delete/orgs/{org}/actions/variables/{name}/repositories/{repository_id}

curl -L \
  -X DELETE \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>"\
  -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28" \
  https://api.github.com/orgs/ORG/actions/variables/NAME/repositories/REPOSITORY_ID

Response

Status: 204

List repository variables

Works with GitHub Apps

Lists all repository variables. You must authenticate using an access token with the repo scope to use this endpoint. GitHub Apps must have the actions_variables:read repository permission to use this endpoint.

Parameters for "List repository variables"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
`accept`string Setting to `application/vnd.github+json` is recommended.
Path parameters
Name, Type, Description
`owner`stringRequired The account owner of the repository. The name is not case sensitive.
`repo`stringRequired The name of the repository. The name is not case sensitive.
Query parameters
Name, Type, Description
`per_page`integer The number of results per page (max 30). Default: `10`
`page`integer Page number of the results to fetch. Default: `1`

HTTP response status codes for "List repository variables"

Status code	Description
`200`	OK

Code samples for "List repository variables"

get/repos/{owner}/{repo}/actions/variables

curl -L \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>"\
  -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28" \
  https://api.github.com/repos/OWNER/REPO/actions/variables

Response

Status: 200

{
  "total_count": 2,
  "variables": [