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In Azure DevOps, variables play a crucial role in automating builds and deployments. They help store data that can be reused across pipelines, such as configuration settings, environment values, or custom logic. Among these, predefined variables are system-generated variables that Azure DevOps provides out of the box. These variables make it easier for developers and DevOps engineers to access useful metadata during pipeline execution.
Azure DevOps Predefined Variables are automatically set by the system and contain context-specific information. These variables can represent data such as the build number, pipeline name, agent details, repository information, source branch, and more. You can use them in both YAML and Classic pipelines.
They are particularly helpful when you want to:
Azure DevOps predefined variables are categorized into several groups depending on the purpose and context:
These variables provide information about the running pipeline, project, job, and system environment.
Common Examples:
These variables provide details about the build/release agent used to run the pipeline.
Examples:
These are specific to build pipelines and include details like source branch, repository name, and more.
Examples:
Used in release pipelines (Classic), these variables store data specific to deployment environments.
Examples:
These variables reflect the current job or stage execution details.
Examples:
In YAML pipelines, predefined variables can be referenced using either the $(variableName) syntax for scripts or as expressions using variables[‘variableName’].
yaml
steps:
- script: echo "Running on branch: $(Build.SourceBranch)"
In Classic pipelines, you can access these variables similarly within task inputs or inline scripts.
Some variables, such as those that store secrets or sensitive info, are treated as secure. These are not logged in plain text and should be accessed with care.
Suppose you only want to run a deployment step when the pipeline is triggered by a main branch. You can use a predefined variable like this:
yaml
- script: echo "Deploying to Production"
condition: eq(variables['Build.SourceBranch'], 'refs/heads/main')
Azure DevOps predefined variables are powerful tools that provide insights into the pipeline runtime environment, helping developers write more dynamic and intelligent pipelines. Whether you’re building, testing, or deploying, these variables let you work with automation efficiently—without hardcoding values or duplicating logic.
Understanding how to leverage Azure DevOps Predefined Variables is essential for building robust, flexible CI/CD pipelines as part of effective Microsoft Azure Development practices. Be sure to explore Microsoft’s official documentation for a complete list and advanced use cases.
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