.. _special_variables: Special Variables ================= Magic variables --------------- These variables cannot be set directly by the user; Ansible will always override them to reflect internal state. ansible_check_mode Boolean that indicates if we are in check mode or not ansible_config_file The full path of used Ansible configuration file ansible_dependent_role_names The names of the roles currently imported into the current play as dependencies of other plays ansible_diff_mode Boolean that indicates if we are in diff mode or not ansible_forks Integer reflecting the number of maximum forks available to this run ansible_inventory_sources List of sources used as inventory ansible_limit Contents of the ``--limit`` CLI option for the current execution of Ansible ansible_loop A dictionary/map containing extended loop information when enabled via ``loop_control.extended`` ansible_loop_var The name of the value provided to ``loop_control.loop_var``. Added in ``2.8`` ansible_index_var The name of the value provided to ``loop_control.index_var``. Added in ``2.9`` ansible_parent_role_names When the current role is being executed by means of an :ref:`include_role ` or :ref:`import_role ` action, this variable contains a list of all parent roles, with the most recent role (in other words, the role that included/imported this role) being the first item in the list. When multiple inclusions occur, this list lists the *last* role (in other words, the role that included this role) as the *first* item in the list. It is also possible that a specific role exists more than once in this list. For example: When role **A** includes role **B**, inside role B, ``ansible_parent_role_names`` will equal to ``['A']``. If role **B** then includes role **C**, the list becomes ``['B', 'A']``. ansible_parent_role_paths When the current role is being executed by means of an :ref:`include_role ` or :ref:`import_role ` action, this variable contains a list of all parent roles, with the most recent role (in other words, the role that included/imported this role) being the first item in the list. Please refer to ``ansible_parent_role_names`` for the order of items in this list. ansible_play_batch List of active hosts in the current play run limited by the serial, aka 'batch'. Failed/Unreachable hosts are not considered 'active'. ansible_play_hosts List of hosts in the current play run, not limited by the serial. Failed/Unreachable hosts are included in this list. ansible_play_hosts_all List of all the hosts that were targeted by the play ansible_play_role_names The names of the roles currently imported into the current play. This list does **not** contain the role names that are implicitly included via dependencies. ansible_playbook_python The path to the python interpreter being used by Ansible on the controller ansible_role_names The names of the roles currently imported into the current play, or roles referenced as dependencies of the roles imported into the current play. ansible_role_name The fully qualified collection role name, in the format of ``namespace.collection.role_name`` ansible_collection_name The name of the collection the task that is executing is a part of. In the format of ``namespace.collection`` ansible_run_tags Contents of the ``--tags`` CLI option, which specifies which tags will be included for the current run. Note that if ``--tags`` is not passed, this variable will default to ``["all"]``. ansible_search_path Current search path for action plugins and lookups, in other words, where we search for relative paths when you do ``template: src=myfile`` ansible_skip_tags Contents of the ``--skip-tags`` CLI option, which specifies which tags will be skipped for the current run. ansible_verbosity Current verbosity setting for Ansible ansible_version Dictionary/map that contains information about the current running version of ansible, it has the following keys: full, major, minor, revision and string. group_names List of groups the current host is part of groups A dictionary/map with all the groups in inventory and each group has the list of hosts that belong to it hostvars A dictionary/map with all the hosts in inventory and variables assigned to them inventory_hostname The inventory name for the 'current' host being iterated over in the play inventory_hostname_short The short version of `inventory_hostname` inventory_dir The directory of the inventory source in which the `inventory_hostname` was first defined inventory_file The file name of the inventory source in which the `inventory_hostname` was first defined omit Special variable that allows you to 'omit' an option in a task, for example ``- user: name=bob home={{ bobs_home|default(omit) }}`` play_hosts Deprecated, the same as ansible_play_batch ansible_play_name The name of the currently executed play. Added in ``2.8``. (`name` attribute of the play, not file name of the playbook.) playbook_dir The path to the directory of the playbook that was passed to the ``ansible-playbook`` command line. role_name The name of the role currently being executed. role_names Deprecated, the same as ansible_play_role_names role_path The path to the dir of the currently running role Facts ----- These are variables that contain information pertinent to the current host (`inventory_hostname`). They are only available if gathered first. See :ref:`vars_and_facts` for more information. ansible_facts Contains any facts gathered or cached for the `inventory_hostname` Facts are normally gathered by the :ref:`setup ` module automatically in a play, but any module can return facts. ansible_local Contains any 'local facts' gathered or cached for the `inventory_hostname`. The keys available depend on the custom facts created. See the :ref:`setup ` module and :ref:`local_facts` for more details. .. _connection_variables: Connection variables --------------------- Connection variables are normally used to set the specifics on how to execute actions on a target. Most of them correspond to connection plugins, but not all are specific to them; other plugins like shell, terminal and become are normally involved. Only the common ones are described as each connection/become/shell/etc plugin can define its own overrides and specific variables. See :ref:`general_precedence_rules` for how connection variables interact with :ref:`configuration settings`, :ref:`command-line options`, and :ref:`playbook keywords`. ansible_become_user The user Ansible 'becomes' after using privilege escalation. This must be available to the 'login user'. ansible_connection The connection plugin actually used for the task on the target host. ansible_host The ip/name of the target host to use instead of `inventory_hostname`. ansible_python_interpreter The path to the Python executable Ansible should use on the target host. ansible_user The user Ansible 'logs in' as.