# Space and global variables

Every variable belongs to a scope, chosen when you create it. The scope decides which pages can use it and who can read it.

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## The two scopes

| **Scope**            | **Where it is kept**             | **Which pages can show it** | **Who can create one**                                    |
| -------------------- | -------------------------------- | --------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Space variables**  | In that space                    | Pages in the same space     | People who can add pages in the space                     |
| **Global variables** | In the Capable Asset Store space | Any page in any space       | People who can add pages in the Capable Asset Store space |

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## Choosing a scope

* Use a **space variable** for something only one team or product needs, such as that product's current version.
* Use a **global variable** for something the whole organisation quotes, such as a support phone number or company-wide policy figure.

The scope is fixed once the variable exists. To move a value to the other scope, create a new variable there and point the pages at it. See [Retire or replace a variable safely](https://help.gocapable.com/variables/retire-or-replace-a-variable-safely.html).

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## Names are unique within a scope

Two variables in the same scope cannot share a name, ignoring case: _Product Version_ and _product version_ count as the same. A space variable and a global variable can share a name, and different spaces can each have their own variable with the same name.

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## A few things that catch people out

* To read a global variable, people need View access to the Capable Asset Store space. Without it they see \[unavailable\] wherever the value appears. See [Global variables are unavailable](https://help.gocapable.com/variables/global-variables-are-unavailable.html).
* The picker offers the current page's space variables plus global variables. A space variable from another space is not offered.
* Variables are stored as Confluence content, so they follow the same space permissions, trash and version history as pages.

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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.

### [Variables catalogue](https://help.gocapable.com/variables/variables-catalogue.html)

Browse, search and create.

### [Variable types and values](https://help.gocapable.com/variables/variable-types-and-values.html)

Text, Number, User and Date.

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_One space, or every space._