Amazon CodeCatalyst is no longer open to new customers. Existing customers can continue to use the service as normal. For more information, see [How to migrate from CodeCatalyst](migration.md).

# Referencing a variable output by another action
<a name="workflows-working-with-variables-reference-action"></a>

Use the following instructions to reference variables output by other actions.

**Note**  
 To reference a variable output from a GitHub Action, see [Referencing GitHub output parameters](integrations-github-action-referencing.md).

For more information about variables, see [Using variables in workflows](workflows-working-with-variables.md).

**Prerequisite**  
Make sure you have exported the variable you want to reference. For more information, see [Exporting a variable so that other actions can use it](workflows-working-with-variables-export-input.md).

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#### [ Visual ]

*Not available. Choose YAML to view the YAML instructions.*

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#### [ YAML ]

**To reference a variable output by another action (YAML editor)**

1. Open the CodeCatalyst console at [https://codecatalyst.aws/](https://codecatalyst.aws/).

1. Choose your project.

1. In the navigation pane, choose **CI/CD**, and then choose **Workflows**.

1. Choose the name of your workflow. You can filter by the source repository or branch name where the workflow is defined, or filter by workflow name or status.

1. Choose **Edit**.

1. Choose **YAML**.

1. In the CodeCatalyst action, add a reference to the variable using the following syntax:

   ```
   ${action-group-name.action-name.variable-name}
   ```

   Replace:
   + *action-group-name* with the name of the action group that contains the action that outputs variable.
**Note**  
You can omit *action-group-name* if there is no action group, or if the variable is produced by an action in the same action group.
   + *action-name* with the name of the action that outputs the variable.
   + *variable-name* with the name of the variable.

   For example:

   ```
   MySecondAction:
       Configuration:
         Steps:
           - Run: ${MyFirstAction.TIMESTAMP}
   ```

   For more examples, see [Examples of variables](workflows-working-with-variables-ex.md). For more information, see the [Workflow YAML definition](workflow-reference.md) for your action.

1. (Optional) Choose **Validate** to validate the workflow's YAML code before committing.

1. Choose **Commit**, enter a commit message, and choose **Commit** again.

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