Template variables
You can use Grafana template variables with the Honeycomb data source to create dynamic, reusable dashboards.
To add a new Honeycomb query variable, refer to Add a query variable. Use your Honeycomb data source as your data source.
Query types
The variable editor provides four query types, selectable via the Query Type radio buttons:
Default
The Default query type creates variables containing datasets, columns, or column values, depending on which fields you fill in:
- No dataset selected: Returns datasets (slug and name). This is equivalent to selecting the Datasets query type.
- Dataset selected, no column selected: Returns column names for the selected dataset, including derived columns and environment-derived columns.
- Dataset and column selected: Returns values for the specified column. The query runs against the Honeycomb API and returns up to 1000 unique values.
When querying column values, the following additional options are available:
- Returned data: Controls how values are extracted from query results.
- Time series (default): Returns the breakdown group labels from time-series results.
- Results: Returns distinct values directly from the specified column in the result data.
- Both: Combines time series and results data.
- Where: Filter the data before extracting column values, using the same filter operators available in the metrics query editor.
- Constraint: Set the filter combination to AND or OR when using multiple filters.
Datasets
Returns dataset slugs. Slugs are a transformed, lowercase version of the dataset name and are the traditional format used by the Honeycomb API.
Dataset Names
Returns the actual display names of datasets. Use this option when you need human-readable names for display purposes or when the slug and display name don’t match.
SLO List
Returns SLO definitions for a selected dataset. Each entry returns the SLO name as the display text and the SLO ID as the value, which can be used in SLO detail queries.
Use variables in queries
After you create a variable, you can use it in your Honeycomb queries. For more information, refer to Variable syntax.
For more information about variables, refer to Templates and variables.
