> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.lithnet.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.lithnet.io/resource-management-powershell/configuration/variables-file/variables-element/variable-element.md).

# \<Variable> element

The `<Variable>` element specifies the name and value of a custom user variable. Variable names do not require a specific format, but you need to ensure that the pattern does not appear normally within your data. The value of a variable can include environment variables, which will be expanded before being processed.

| XML Attribute Name | Description                                                            | Allowed Values                                                                   |
| ------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| name               | Required. The name of the variable                                     | Any string value that is valid in an XML attribute                               |
| value              | Required. The value to substitute with when the variable name is found | The value of the variable must match the data type of the destination attribute. |

### Example

```xml
<Variables>
   <!-- A variable containing an environment variable -->
   <Variable name="#domain#" value="%userdomain%">

   <!-- A variable containing a fixed string -->
   <Variable name="#EnviromentName#" value="Development">
</Variables>
```


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