REST API endpoints for GitHub Actions variables

About variables in GitHub Actions

You can use the REST API to create, update, delete, and retrieve information about variables that can be used in workflows in GitHub Actions. Variables allow you to store non-sensitive information, such as a username, in your repository, repository environments, or organization. For more information, see Store information in variables in the GitHub Actions documentation.

List organization variables

Lists all organization variables.

Authenticated users must have collaborator access to a repository to create, update, or read variables.

OAuth app tokens and personal access tokens (classic) need the admin:org scope to use this endpoint. If the repository is private, the repo scope is also required.

Fine-grained access tokens for "List organization variables"

This endpoint works with the following fine-grained token types:

The fine-grained token must have the following permission set:

"Variables" organization permissions (read)

Parameters for "List organization variables"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
`accept` string Setting to `application/vnd.github+json` is recommended.

Path parameters
Name, Type, Description
`org` string Required The organization name. The name is not case sensitive.

Query parameters
Name, Type, Description
`per_page` integer The number of results per page (max 30). For more information, see "Using pagination in the REST API." Default: `10`
`page` integer The page number of the results to fetch. For more information, see "Using pagination in the REST API." Default: `1`

HTTP response status codes for "List organization variables"

Status code	Description
`200`	OK

Code samples for "List organization variables"

If you access GitHub at GHE.com, replace api.github.com with your enterprise's dedicated subdomain at api.SUBDOMAIN.ghe.com.

Request example

get/orgs/{org}/actions/variables

curl -L \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>" \
  -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2026-03-10" \
  https://api.github.com/orgs/ORG/actions/variables

Response

Status: 200

{
  "total_count": 3,
  "variables": [
    {
      "name": "USERNAME",
      "value": "octocat",
      "created_at": "2019-08-10T14:59:22Z",
      "updated_at": "2020-01-10T14:59:22Z",
      "visibility": "private"
    },
    {
      "name": "ACTIONS_RUNNER_DEBUG",
      "value": true,
      "created_at": "2019-08-10T14:59:22Z",
      "updated_at": "2020-01-10T14:59:22Z",
      "visibility": "all"
    },
    {
      "name": "ADMIN_EMAIL",
      "value": "octocat@github.com",
      "created_at": "2019-08-10T14:59:22Z",
      "updated_at": "2020-01-10T14:59:22Z",
      "visibility": "selected",
      "selected_repositories_url": "https://api.github.com/orgs/octo-org/actions/variables/ADMIN_EMAIL/repositories"
    }
  ]
}

Create an organization variable

Creates an organization variable that you can reference in a GitHub Actions workflow.

Authenticated users must have collaborator access to a repository to create, update, or read variables.

OAuth tokens and personal access tokens (classic) need theadmin:org scope to use this endpoint. If the repository is private, OAuth tokens and personal access tokens (classic) need the repo scope to use this endpoint.

Fine-grained access tokens for "Create an organization variable"

This endpoint works with the following fine-grained token types:

The fine-grained token must have the following permission set:

"Variables" organization permissions (write)

Parameters for "Create an organization variable"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
`accept` string Setting to `application/vnd.github+json` is recommended.

Path parameters
Name, Type, Description
`org` string Required The organization name. The name is not case sensitive.

Body parameters
Name, Type, Description
`name` string Required The name of the variable.
`value` string Required The value of the variable.
`visibility` string Required The type of repositories in the organization that can access the variable. `selected` means only the repositories specified by `selected_repository_ids` can access the variable. Can be one of: `all`, `private`, `selected`
`selected_repository_ids` array of integers An array of repository ids that can access the organization variable. You can only provide a list of repository ids when the `visibility` is set to `selected`.

HTTP response status codes for "Create an organization variable"

Status code	Description
`201`	Response when creating a variable

Code samples for "Create an organization variable"

If you access GitHub at GHE.com, replace api.github.com with your enterprise's dedicated subdomain at api.SUBDOMAIN.ghe.com.

Request example

post/orgs/{org}/actions/variables

curl -L \
  -X POST \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>" \
  -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2026-03-10" \
  https://api.github.com/orgs/ORG/actions/variables \
  -d '{"name":"USERNAME","value":"octocat","visibility":"selected","selected_repository_ids":[1296269,1296280]}'

REST API endpoints for GitHub Actions variables

Request example

Response

Request example

Response when creating a variable