# What Capable Variables is

Capable Variables lets you define a value once, such as a version number, a release date or a product owner, and show it inline on any Confluence page. You create the variable in a catalogue, place it in a sentence with the **Variable (Capable)** macro or from the page byline, and readers see the value as ordinary text. When the value changes, you edit it in one place and every page that shows it displays the new value the next time it loads.

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## At a glance

| **Macro**        | Variable (Capable)                                                                        |
| ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Types**        | Text, Number, User, Date                                                                  |
| **Scopes**       | Space variables (one space) and Global variables (any page in any space)                  |
| **Managed from** | Capable, **Variables** page: catalogue, details sidebar, restrictions and version history |
| **Sold as**      | A capability inside the Capable Suite, on the Advanced edition                            |
| **Works with**   | Capable Search, PDF and Word export, Capable Sites                                        |

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## What it is good for

* A product version, price or release date that appears on dozens of pages and changes every release.
* A named owner or contact, shown as a person, that should stay current when people change roles.
* A support phone number, SLA figure or policy limit quoted across a whole space.

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## A few things worth knowing

* Values are not private. Anyone who can view the space that holds a variable can read its value, find it in search and see its past values. Never store secrets.
* Editing a variable changes the text of every page that shows it, including pages you cannot edit. Those pages get no new version and watchers are not notified.
* Pages that already show a variable keep showing it on any edition. Creating and choosing variables needs the Advanced edition.

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## Related

### [Editions and availability](https://help.gocapable.com/variables/editions-and-availability.html)

Advanced edition, Suite only.

### [Get started](https://help.gocapable.com/variables/get-started.html)

Your first variable.

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

Who can read a value.

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_The short version._