---
title: "Amazon Managed Service for Prometheus template variables | Grafana Plugins documentation"
description: "Use template variables with the Amazon Managed Service for Prometheus data source to create dynamic, reusable Grafana dashboards."
---

> For a curated documentation index, see [llms.txt](/llms.txt). For the complete documentation index, see [llms-full.txt](/llms-full.txt).

# Amazon Managed Service for Prometheus template variables

Use template variables to create dynamic, reusable dashboards that let you change displayed data without editing queries. The Amazon Managed Service for Prometheus data source supports the same template variable features as the core Grafana Prometheus data source.

## Before you begin

Before you create template variables, ensure you have:

- [Configured the Amazon Managed Service for Prometheus data source](/docs/plugins/grafana-amazonprometheus-datasource/latest/configure/).
- A basic understanding of [Grafana template variables](/docs/grafana/latest/dashboards/variables/).

## Supported variable types

The data source supports the following template variable types.

Expand table

| Variable type  | Supported |
|----------------|-----------|
| Query          | Yes       |
| Custom         | Yes       |
| Text box       | Yes       |
| Constant       | Yes       |
| Data source    | Yes       |
| Interval       | Yes       |
| Ad hoc filters | Yes       |

## Create a query variable

Query variables get their values from your workspace. To create a query variable:

1. Navigate to **Dashboard settings** > **Variables**.
2. Click **Add variable**.
3. Select **Query** as the variable type.
4. Select the Amazon Managed Service for Prometheus data source.
5. Select a query type and enter the query details.
6. Click **Apply** to save the variable.

## Query variable functions

When you select **Query** as the variable type, the variable editor provides a query type selector with options such as **Label names**, **Label values**, **Metrics**, **Query result**, and **Series query**. Each option maps to one of the following Prometheus functions, which you can also enter directly.

Expand table

| Function                      | Description                                                                    |
|-------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| `label_names()`               | Returns a list of all label names in the workspace.                            |
| `label_values(label)`         | Returns a list of values for the specified label across all metrics.           |
| `label_values(metric, label)` | Returns a list of values for the specified label on the specified metric.      |
| `metrics(regex)`              | Returns a list of metrics whose names match the regular expression.            |
| `query_result(query)`         | Returns the result of a PromQL query, useful for filtering on computed values. |

### Query variable examples

The following examples show how to use each function in a query variable.

Return every label name in the workspace:

promql ![Copy code to clipboard](/media/images/icons/icon-copy-small-2.svg) Copy

```promql
label_names()
```

Return all values of the `job` label:

promql ![Copy code to clipboard](/media/images/icons/icon-copy-small-2.svg) Copy

```promql
label_values(job)
```

Return the `instance` values that exist on the `node_cpu_seconds_total` metric:

promql ![Copy code to clipboard](/media/images/icons/icon-copy-small-2.svg) Copy

```promql
label_values(node_cpu_seconds_total, instance)
```

Return all metrics whose names contain `node`:

promql ![Copy code to clipboard](/media/images/icons/icon-copy-small-2.svg) Copy

```promql
metrics(node)
```

Use `query_result` to list the instances with high memory usage:

promql ![Copy code to clipboard](/media/images/icons/icon-copy-small-2.svg) Copy

```promql
query_result(topk(5, sum by (instance) (node_memory_MemTotal_bytes)))
```

### Chain variables

You can reference one variable in another variable’s query to create dependent, or cascading, variables. For example, if you have a `job` variable, create an `instance` variable whose values depend on the selected job:

promql ![Copy code to clipboard](/media/images/icons/icon-copy-small-2.svg) Copy

```promql
label_values(up{job="$job"}, instance)
```

When you change the `job` variable, Grafana refreshes the `instance` variable to show only the instances for that job.

## Use variables in queries

Reference a variable in a query with the `$variable_name` or `${variable_name}` syntax. For example, if you have a variable named `instance`, filter a query by the selected instance:

promql ![Copy code to clipboard](/media/images/icons/icon-copy-small-2.svg) Copy

```promql
rate(node_cpu_seconds_total{instance="$instance"}[$__rate_interval])
```

When a variable allows multiple values, use the regex match operator so the query matches any selected value:

promql ![Copy code to clipboard](/media/images/icons/icon-copy-small-2.svg) Copy

```promql
rate(node_cpu_seconds_total{instance=~"$instance"}[$__rate_interval])
```

To use multi-value variables, set the **Multi-value** option on the variable and use the `=~` operator. Grafana formats the selected values as a regular expression alternation, such as `value1|value2`.