Configure Template Variables

Template variables let you dynamically filter dashboards using runtime values from your telemetry data, such as namespace, cluster, pod, or service.

dashboard template variable query

Create a Template Variable

  1. In the dashboard, open the Actions menu.

  2. Select Configure variables.

  3. Click Add Variable.

General Settings

  • Name — Internal reference used in queries (e.g., $namespace)

  • Label — Optional UI label (e.g., Namespace)

  • Description — Optional help text visible in the dropdown

  • Variable type — Select from:

    • Query (default): populate values dynamically from the backend

Query Options

  • Stream type — Choose Metrics, Logs, or other supported types

  • Query type — Select how to extract values:

    • Label values — populate from label keys

    • Series — match full series names

  • Label — Choose a label such as service_namespace or cluster

  • Metric — Optional, limit values to a specific metric

Filter values

Use filters to narrow results:

dashboard template variable query

  • Combine filters using key, operator, and value

  • Click + to add multiple filter conditions

Use Regex

Use regex to extract or format display values.

Example:

/.+(?<text>.*):(?<value>.*)/
regex

This lets you split a label or metric into display name and internal value.

Sort and Selection Options

  • Sort — Choose how to order values (e.g., by value or name)

  • Multi-value — Allow selecting more than one value

  • Allow custom values — Allow users to enter custom values

  • Include all options — Add an All selection to apply to every possible value

Preview and Save

  1. Click Run query to test the variable setup.

  2. Use the preview at the bottom to confirm expected values.

  3. Click Save or Go back to list to apply the configuration.

Once configured, you can use the variable in any panel query using $variableName.