> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://botpress.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Configuration variables

Configuration variables let you **securely store information throughout your bot**.

Like [bot variables](https://botpress.com/docs/studio/concepts/variables/scopes/bot.md), configuration variables are accessible across all Workflows and conversations. The key difference is that configuration variables are **encrypted**. This means an Autonomous Node can't read or display information you store in a configuration variable.

This extra layer of security makes configuration variables great for storing sensitive information, like:

* API Tokens
* Private IP Addresses
* Usernames and passwords

> [!NOTE]
>
> If you need your variable to be available globally but don't need/want to store it securely, use a [bot variable](https://botpress.com/docs/studio/concepts/variables/scopes/bot.md).

> [!TIP]
>
> Need help getting started with variables? Check out our [introduction to variables](https://botpress.com/docs/studio/concepts/variables/overview.md).

## Create a configuration variable

To create a configuration variable:

1. In the Studio, select **Bot Settings** from the bottom-left corner.
2. Scroll to the **Configuration Variables** section:

![Configuration variables](https://mintcdn.com/botpress/RWKQxTh1qL1DGc-R/studio/concepts/variables/scopes/assets/configuration-variables.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=RWKQxTh1qL1DGc-R\&q=85\&s=1e6b66d1249f63bb6b67806030ef3803)

3. Select **+**, then enter a **Name** and **Value** for your variable:

![Configuration variable fields](https://mintcdn.com/botpress/RWKQxTh1qL1DGc-R/studio/concepts/variables/scopes/assets/configuration-fields.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=RWKQxTh1qL1DGc-R\&q=85\&s=48442c57679eaf65d4d50cab76fea46f)

## Read a configuration variable

You can use `env.variablename` to read a configuration variable. For example, in an [Execute Code](https://botpress.com/docs/studio/concepts/cards/execute-code.md) Card:

![Access configuration variable in an Execute Code Card](https://mintcdn.com/botpress/RWKQxTh1qL1DGc-R/studio/concepts/variables/scopes/assets/access-config-var.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=RWKQxTh1qL1DGc-R\&q=85\&s=28e9b10cacfbe578626b95638eb01020)


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