---
layout: "docs"
page_title: "Variable Interpolation"
sidebar_current: "docs-variable-interpolation"
description: |-
Learn about the Nomad's interpolation and interpreted variables.
---
# Variable Interpolation
Nomad supports interpreting two classes of variables: node attributes and
runtime environment variables. Node attributes are interpretable in constraints,
task environment variables, and certain driver fields. Runtime environment
variables are not interpretable in constraints because they are only defined
once the scheduler has placed them on a particular node.
The syntax for interpreting variables is `${variable}`. An example and a
comprehensive list of interpretable fields can be seen below:
```hcl
task "docs" {
driver = "docker"
# Drivers support interpreting node attributes and runtime environment
# variables
config {
image = "my-app"
# Interpret runtime variables to inject the address to bind to and the
# location to write logs to.
args = [
"--bind", "${NOMAD_ADDR_RPC}",
"--logs", "${NOMAD_ALLOC_DIR}/logs",
]
port_map {
RPC = 6379
}
}
# Constraints only support node attributes as runtime environment variables
# are only defined after the task is placed on a node.
constraint {
attribute = "${attr.kernel.name}"
value = "linux"
}
# Environment variables are interpreted and can contain both runtime and
# node attributes. These environment variables are passed into the task.
env {
"DC" = "Running on datacenter ${node.datacenter}"
"VERSION" = "Version ${NOMAD_META_VERSION}"
}
# Meta keys are also interpretable.
meta {
VERSION = "v0.3"
}
}
```
## Node Variables
Below is a full listing of node attributes that are interpretable. These
attributes are interpreted by __both__ constraints and within the task and
driver.
Property |
Description |
${attr.cpu.arch} |
CPU architecture of the client (e.g. amd64, 386) |
${attr.cpu.numcores} |
Number of CPU cores on the client |
${attr.cpu.totalcompute} |
cpu.frequency × cpu.numcores but may be overridden by client.cpu_total_compute
|
${attr.consul.datacenter} |
The Consul datacenter of the client (if Consul is found) |
${attr.driver.<property>} |
See the [task drivers](/docs/drivers/index.html) for property documentation |
${attr.unique.hostname} |
Hostname of the client |
${attr.unique.network.ip-address} |
The IP address fingerprinted by the client and from which task ports are allocated |
${attr.kernel.name} |
Kernel of the client (e.g. linux, darwin) |
${attr.kernel.version} |
Version of the client kernel (e.g. 3.19.0-25-generic, 15.0.0) |
${attr.platform.aws.ami-id} |
AMI ID of the client (if on AWS EC2) |
${attr.platform.aws.instance-type} |
Instance type of the client (if on AWS EC2) |
${attr.os.name} |
Operating system of the client (e.g. ubuntu, windows, darwin) |
${attr.os.version} |
Version of the client OS |
Here are some examples of using node attributes and properties in a job file:
```hcl
job "docs" {
# This will constrain this job to only run on 64-bit clients.
constraint {
attribute = "${attr.cpu.arch}"
value = "amd64"
}
# This will restrict the job to only run on clients with 4 or more cores.
# Note: you may also declare a resource requirement for CPU for a task.
constraint {
attribute = "${cpu.numcores}"
operator = ">="
value = "4"
}
# Only run this job on a memory-optimized AWS EC2 instance.
constraint {
attribute = "${attr.platform.aws.instance-type}"
value = "m4.xlarge"
}
}
```
## Environment Variables