n8n Variables

Flat variables workflows read through $vars at execution time.

The connection

What	This provider
Vendor	n8n
Key	`n8n-variables`
Availability	`available`. You can connect it today.
Credential penv holds	`n8n-key`
Values read back	yes
Activation	`immediate`

Direction	What it does
`import`	Reads names and values out of the store into penv.
`export`	Writes names and values from penv into the store.

immediate. The running app sees a new value at once.

Direction	Policies you can pick
`import`	`skip_existing`, `new_version`, `fail`
`export`	`create_only`, `overwrite`, `overwrite_and_prune`

How syncs work says what each one does.

You paste a credential you already hold. penv seals it and never shows it again.

Field	Label	Kind	Required	What it is
`apiKey`	API key	secret, masked here and sealed	yes	On a licensed plan, with variable:list, variable:create, variable:update and variable:delete.

Fixed when you connect, and shared by every mapping on it.

Field	Label	Kind	Required	Advanced	What it is
`instanceUrl`	Instance URL	text	yes	no	Cloud or your own instance. Must be reachable from the internet.

Answered once per environment you map.

Field	Label	Kind	Required	Advanced	What it is
`projectId`	Project	text	no	yes	Leave empty for the instance's own variables.

penv probes for these when it verifies the connection.

Permission	Directions	Blocking	Without it
`variable:list`	every direction	yes	Preview cannot list the instance's variables.
`variable:create`	`export`	yes	Export cannot write anything.
`variable:update`	`export`	yes	Export can add a variable but never change one that is already there.
`variable:delete`	`export`	yes	A prune cannot remove anything.