How it works
A variable is a named, typed value stored as Confluence content, either in a space or in the Capable Asset Store for global variables. Pages refer to it by its ID, never by its name, so renaming is always safe. Each time a page loads, the value is read fresh, as the person viewing the page, which is why a change reaches every page at once and why a reader without access sees a placeholder instead.
The pages below cover each part of that in turn.
#In this section
Space and global variables
Where a variable lives.
Variable types and values
Text, Number, User and Date.
Variables catalogue
Browse, search and create.
Details sidebar
Value, usage and editing.
Edit access and version history
Who can edit, and past values.
How a value appears on the page
What readers see.
Insert a variable from the byline
Add a variable without the editor.
Who can see a value
Values follow space permissions.
#Related
How it actually behaves.
