---
title: "ktm variables create"
description: "Create a variable (single | secret | choice)"
sidebarTitle: "create"
lastUpdated: "2026-09-23"
---

> **For AI agents:** the complete documentation index is at [llms.txt](/llms.txt). Append `.md` to any page URL for its markdown version.

{/* GENERATED FILE: do not edit by hand. Regenerate with: node scripts/generate.mjs */}

Create a variable (single | secret | choice)

## Usage

```bash
ktm variables create [flags]
```

## Examples

```bash
ktm variables create --product acme~web --name DB_HOST --type single --default-value localhost
ktm variables create --product acme~web --name ENV --type choice --default-value "dev,staging,prod"
ktm variables create --product acme~web --name DB_HOST --type single --default-value localhost --group 42
```

## Flags

| Flag | Type | Default | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `--default-value` | string |  | Default value (for choice: comma-separated) |
| `--description` | string |  | Description (optional, recommended) — explains the variable's purpose; agents and humans use it to disambiguate semantically |
| `--group` | int |  | Optional variable group id |
| `--name` | string |  | Variable name (required) |
| `--product` | string |  | Product slug (required) |
| `--type` | string |  | single \| secret \| choice (required) |

## Details

Types:
  single  scalar string value in --default-value
  secret  scalar string; platform masks on read
  choice  --default-value is a comma-separated list of allowed values

For group-scoped vars supply --group <id>; omit for a global variable. When
--group is set the tool auto-fans variable_values to one entry per variant of
that group, all initialised to --default-value. Tune individual variants
afterwards with 'ktm variables set-value'.

Secrets: never embed a real secret into shell history. Create via the web UI
or feed the value through an env-var ($MY_SECRET) on ephemeral shells.

## Related

- [`ktm variables`](/cli/commands/variables)

<Note>
  Global flags (`--output`, `--debug`, `--host`, …) apply to every command. See the [command reference overview](/cli/commands/overview).
</Note>

## What's next?

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    Browse the full CLI reference.
  </Card>
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    Install the CLI and authenticate.
  </Card>
</Columns>