Documentation Plugins Datadog data source Template variables

Datadog template variables

Instead of hard-coding details such as server, application, and sensor names in metric queries, you can use variables. Grafana lists these variables in drop-down lists at the top of the dashboard to help you change the data displayed in your dashboard. Grafana refers to such variables as template variables.

For an introduction to templates and variables, refer to the following topics:

• Variables
• Templates
• Add and manage variables
• Variable syntax

To add a new Datadog query variable, refer to Add a query variable. Use your Datadog data source as your data source. The following queries are available:

For custom tag groups, enter the tag group name in the Query field. For example, if your custom tag group name is subscription_name, enter subscription_name.

After you create a variable, you can add it to your Datadog queries. For more information, refer to Variable syntax.

Examples

The following examples show how to create variables and use them in queries.

Filter panels by host

Create a drop-down that filters every panel by host:

1. In Dashboard settings > Variables, click Add variable.
2. Set Select variable type to Query and select your Datadog data source.
3. In the Query field, enter all-hosts.
4. Name the variable host and click Apply.

Use the variable in a query by adding it as a tag filter. For example, in a Raw query, enter avg:system.cpu.user{host:$host}. When you select a host from the drop-down, the panel updates to show only that host.

List the tags for a metric

Create a variable whose values are the tags associated with a specific metric:

1. Add a Query variable that uses your Datadog data source.
2. In the Query field, enter <metric>:all-tags, such as system.cpu.user:all-tags.
3. Name the variable and click Apply.

The variable’s drop-down lists the tag values reported for that metric, which you can then use to filter or group your queries.

Ad hoc filters

The ad hoc filters variable ships with Grafana and can be used with metric Datadog queries. Ad hoc filters let you retrieve all key-value pairs from tags, such as region:east or region:west, and use them as query tags. To create this variable, complete the following steps:

1. Open your dashboard and go to Dashboard settings.
2. Click Variables under Settings in the sidebar menu.
3. Click Add variable.
4. Select the Ad hoc filters variable type from the drop-down menu.
5. Enter general options.
6. Select Datadog as the data source.

Ad hoc filters are one of the most complex and flexible variable options available. Instead of a regular list of variable options, this variable lets you build a dashboard-wide ad hoc query. Filters you apply in this manner are applied to all panels on the dashboard.