# Edit access and version history

Because each variable is stored as Confluence content, it has Confluence's edit restrictions and version history. Both are in the details sidebar.

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## Restrictions

Open **Restrictions** from the row's **...** menu or the sidebar. The dialog, **Permissions** followed by the variable's name, says: _Choose who can edit this item. Everyone else can still view and use it._ Add people or groups to **Can edit** and select **Save**.

| **Who sees Restrictions**                                   | **For**             |
| ----------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------- |
| Space administrators                                        | Space variables     |
| People who manage permissions for global Capable content    | Global variables    |
| The person who created the variable, while they can edit it | Their own variables |

Everyone else does not see the option at all.

⚠️

**Restrictions control editing only.** They never hide a value. Anyone who can view the space can still read it, find it in search and see its past values.

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## Version history

The **Version history** section lists every saved version, newest first. Each entry shows a version badge (**Current** on the latest), when it was saved, who saved it and its value. Older versions show **Show value** to load that value. **Show older versions** loads more; **No earlier versions.** means you have reached the first one.

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## A few things that catch people out

* There is no restore button. To go back to an earlier value, copy it from the history and save it as the current value.
* Version history is visible to anyone who can view the space, so an old value is never truly gone. Never store secrets in a variable.
* The **Edit access** column in the catalogue shows at a glance whether a variable is restricted.

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## Related

### [Who can see a value](https://help.gocapable.com/variables/who-can-see-a-value.html)

Values follow space permissions.

### [Restrictions or Edit is missing from a variable's menu](https://help.gocapable.com/variables/restrictions-or-edit-is-missing-from-a-variable-s-menu.html)

When the option is not there.

### [Details sidebar](https://help.gocapable.com/variables/details-sidebar.html)

Value, usage and editing.

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_Lock the editing, never the reading._