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title shortTitle intro redirect_from versions
Contexts
Contexts
You can access context information in workflows and actions.
/articles/contexts-and-expression-syntax-for-github-actions
/github/automating-your-workflow-with-github-actions/contexts-and-expression-syntax-for-github-actions
/actions/automating-your-workflow-with-github-actions/contexts-and-expression-syntax-for-github-actions
/actions/reference/contexts-and-expression-syntax-for-github-actions
/actions/reference/context-and-expression-syntax-for-github-actions
fpt ghes ghec
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{% data reusables.actions.enterprise-github-hosted-runners %}

About contexts

{% data reusables.actions.actions-contexts-about-description %} Each context is an object that contains properties, which can be strings or other objects.

{% data reusables.actions.context-contents %} For example, the matrix context is only populated for jobs in a matrix.

You can access contexts using the expression syntax. For more information, see "AUTOTITLE."

{% raw %} ${{ <context> }} {% endraw %}

{% data reusables.actions.context-injection-warning %}

Context name Type Description
github object Information about the workflow run. For more information, see github context.
env object Contains variables set in a workflow, job, or step. For more information, see env context.
vars object Contains variables set at the repository, organization, or environment levels. For more information, see vars context.
job object Information about the currently running job. For more information, see job context.
jobs object For reusable workflows only, contains outputs of jobs from the reusable workflow. For more information, see jobs context.
steps object Information about the steps that have been run in the current job. For more information, see steps context.
runner object Information about the runner that is running the current job. For more information, see runner context.
secrets object Contains the names and values of secrets that are available to a workflow run. For more information, see secrets context.
strategy object Information about the matrix execution strategy for the current job. For more information, see strategy context.
matrix object Contains the matrix properties defined in the workflow that apply to the current job. For more information, see matrix context.
needs object Contains the outputs of all jobs that are defined as a dependency of the current job. For more information, see needs context.
inputs object Contains the inputs of a reusable or manually triggered workflow. For more information, see inputs context.

As part of an expression, you can access context information using one of two syntaxes.

  • Index syntax: github['sha']
  • Property dereference syntax: github.sha

In order to use property dereference syntax, the property name must start with a letter or _ and contain only alphanumeric characters, -, or _.

If you attempt to dereference a nonexistent property, it will evaluate to an empty string.

Determining when to use contexts

{% data variables.product.prodname_actions %} includes a collection of variables called contexts and a similar collection of variables called default variables. These variables are intended for use at different points in the workflow:

  • Default environment variables: These environment variables exist only on the runner that is executing your job. For more information, see "AUTOTITLE."
  • Contexts: You can use most contexts at any point in your workflow, including when default variables would be unavailable. For example, you can use contexts with expressions to perform initial processing before the job is routed to a runner for execution; this allows you to use a context with the conditional if keyword to determine whether a step should run. Once the job is running, you can also retrieve context variables from the runner that is executing the job, such as runner.os. For details of where you can use various contexts within a workflow, see "Context availability."

The following example demonstrates how these different types of variables can be used together in a job:

{% raw %}

name: CI
on: push
jobs:
  prod-check:
    if: ${{ github.ref == 'refs/heads/main' }}
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - run: echo "Deploying to production server on branch $GITHUB_REF"

{% endraw %}

In this example, the if statement checks the github.ref context to determine the current branch name; if the name is refs/heads/main, then the subsequent steps are executed. The if check is processed by {% data variables.product.prodname_actions %}, and the job is only sent to the runner if the result is true. Once the job is sent to the runner, the step is executed and refers to the $GITHUB_REF variable from the runner.

Context availability

Different contexts are available throughout a workflow run. For example, the secrets context may only be used at certain places within a job.

In addition, some functions may only be used in certain places. For example, the hashFiles function is not available everywhere.

The following table indicates where each context and special function can be used within a workflow. Unless listed below, a function can be used anywhere.

Workflow key Context Special functions
run-name github, inputs, vars None
concurrency github, inputs, vars None
env github, secrets, inputs, vars None
jobs.<job_id>.concurrency github, needs, strategy, matrix, inputs, vars None
jobs.<job_id>.container github, needs, strategy, matrix, vars, inputs None
jobs.<job_id>.container.credentials github, needs, strategy, matrix, env, vars, secrets, inputs None
jobs.<job_id>.container.env.<env_id> github, needs, strategy, matrix, job, runner, env, vars, secrets, inputs None
jobs.<job_id>.container.image github, needs, strategy, matrix, vars, inputs None
jobs.<job_id>.continue-on-error github, needs, strategy, vars, matrix, inputs None
jobs.<job_id>.defaults.run github, needs, strategy, matrix, env, vars, inputs None
jobs.<job_id>.env github, needs, strategy, matrix, vars, secrets, inputs None
jobs.<job_id>.environment github, needs, strategy, matrix, vars, inputs None
jobs.<job_id>.environment.url github, needs, strategy, matrix, job, runner, env, vars, steps, inputs None
jobs.<job_id>.if github, needs, vars, inputs always, cancelled, success, failure
jobs.<job_id>.name github, needs, strategy, matrix, vars, inputs None
jobs.<job_id>.outputs.<output_id> github, needs, strategy, matrix, job, runner, env, vars, secrets, steps, inputs None
jobs.<job_id>.runs-on github, needs, strategy, matrix, vars, inputs None
jobs.<job_id>.secrets.<secrets_id> github, needs, strategy, matrix, secrets, inputs, vars None
jobs.<job_id>.services github, needs, strategy, matrix, vars, inputs None
jobs.<job_id>.services.<service_id>.credentials github, needs, strategy, matrix, env, vars, secrets, inputs None
jobs.<job_id>.services.<service_id>.env.<env_id> github, needs, strategy, matrix, job, runner, env, vars, secrets, inputs None
jobs.<job_id>.steps.continue-on-error github, needs, strategy, matrix, job, runner, env, vars, secrets, steps, inputs hashFiles
jobs.<job_id>.steps.env github, needs, strategy, matrix, job, runner, env, vars, secrets, steps, inputs hashFiles
jobs.<job_id>.steps.if github, needs, strategy, matrix, job, runner, env, vars, steps, inputs always, cancelled, success, failure, hashFiles
jobs.<job_id>.steps.name github, needs, strategy, matrix, job, runner, env, vars, secrets, steps, inputs hashFiles
jobs.<job_id>.steps.run github, needs, strategy, matrix, job, runner, env, vars, secrets, steps, inputs hashFiles
jobs.<job_id>.steps.timeout-minutes github, needs, strategy, matrix, job, runner, env, vars, secrets, steps, inputs hashFiles
jobs.<job_id>.steps.with github, needs, strategy, matrix, job, runner, env, vars, secrets, steps, inputs hashFiles
jobs.<job_id>.steps.working-directory github, needs, strategy, matrix, job, runner, env, vars, secrets, steps, inputs hashFiles
jobs.<job_id>.strategy github, needs, vars, inputs None
jobs.<job_id>.timeout-minutes github, needs, strategy, matrix, vars, inputs None
jobs.<job_id>.with.<with_id> github, needs, strategy, matrix, inputs, vars None
on.workflow_call.inputs.<inputs_id>.default github, inputs, vars None
on.workflow_call.outputs.<output_id>.value github, jobs, vars, inputs None

Example: printing context information to the log

You can print the contents of contexts to the log for debugging. The toJSON function is required to pretty-print JSON objects to the log.

{% data reusables.actions.github-context-warning %}

{% raw %}

name: Context testing
on: push

jobs:
  dump_contexts_to_log:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Dump GitHub context
        env:
          GITHUB_CONTEXT: ${{ toJson(github) }}
        run: echo "$GITHUB_CONTEXT"
      - name: Dump job context
        env:
          JOB_CONTEXT: ${{ toJson(job) }}
        run: echo "$JOB_CONTEXT"
      - name: Dump steps context
        env:
          STEPS_CONTEXT: ${{ toJson(steps) }}
        run: echo "$STEPS_CONTEXT"
      - name: Dump runner context
        env:
          RUNNER_CONTEXT: ${{ toJson(runner) }}
        run: echo "$RUNNER_CONTEXT"
      - name: Dump strategy context
        env:
          STRATEGY_CONTEXT: ${{ toJson(strategy) }}
        run: echo "$STRATEGY_CONTEXT"
      - name: Dump matrix context
        env:
          MATRIX_CONTEXT: ${{ toJson(matrix) }}
        run: echo "$MATRIX_CONTEXT"

{% endraw %}

github context

The github context contains information about the workflow run and the event that triggered the run. You can also read most of the github context data in environment variables. For more information about environment variables, see "AUTOTITLE."

{% data reusables.actions.github-context-warning %} {% data reusables.actions.context-injection-warning %}

Property name Type Description
github object The top-level context available during any job or step in a workflow. This object contains all the properties listed below.
github.action string The name of the action currently running, or the id of a step. {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %} removes special characters, and uses the name __run when the current step runs a script without an id. If you use the same action more than once in the same job, the name will include a suffix with the sequence number with underscore before it. For example, the first script you run will have the name __run, and the second script will be named __run_2. Similarly, the second invocation of actions/checkout will be actionscheckout2.
github.action_path string The path where an action is located. This property is only supported in composite actions. You can use this path to access files located in the same repository as the action, for example by changing directories to the path: {% raw %} cd ${{ github.action_path }} {% endraw %}.
github.action_ref string For a step executing an action, this is the ref of the action being executed. For example, v2.

{% data reusables.actions.composite-actions-unsupported-refs %}
github.action_repository string For a step executing an action, this is the owner and repository name of the action. For example, actions/checkout.

{% data reusables.actions.composite-actions-unsupported-refs %}
github.action_status string For a composite action, the current result of the composite action.
github.actor string The username of the user that triggered the initial workflow run. If the workflow run is a re-run, this value may differ from github.triggering_actor. Any workflow re-runs will use the privileges of github.actor, even if the actor initiating the re-run (github.triggering_actor) has different privileges.
github.actor_id string {% data reusables.actions.actor_id-description %}
github.api_url string The URL of the {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %} REST API.
github.base_ref string The base_ref or target branch of the pull request in a workflow run. This property is only available when the event that triggers a workflow run is either pull_request or pull_request_target.
github.env string Path on the runner to the file that sets environment variables from workflow commands. This file is unique to the current step and is a different file for each step in a job. For more information, see "AUTOTITLE."
github.event object The full event webhook payload. You can access individual properties of the event using this context. This object is identical to the webhook payload of the event that triggered the workflow run, and is different for each event. The webhooks for each {% data variables.product.prodname_actions %} event is linked in "AUTOTITLE." For example, for a workflow run triggered by the push event, this object contains the contents of the push webhook payload.
github.event_name string The name of the event that triggered the workflow run.
github.event_path string The path to the file on the runner that contains the full event webhook payload.
github.graphql_url string The URL of the {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %} GraphQL API.
github.head_ref string The head_ref or source branch of the pull request in a workflow run. This property is only available when the event that triggers a workflow run is either pull_request or pull_request_target.
github.job string The job_id of the current job.
Note: This context property is set by the Actions runner, and is only available within the execution steps of a job. Otherwise, the value of this property will be null.
github.path string Path on the runner to the file that sets system PATH variables from workflow commands. This file is unique to the current step and is a different file for each step in a job. For more information, see "AUTOTITLE."
github.ref string {% data reusables.actions.ref-description %}
github.ref_name string {% data reusables.actions.ref_name-description %}
github.ref_protected boolean {% data reusables.actions.ref_protected-description %}
github.ref_type string {% data reusables.actions.ref_type-description %}
github.repository string The owner and repository name. For example, octocat/Hello-World.
github.repository_id string {% data reusables.actions.repository_id-description %}
github.repository_owner string The repository owner's username. For example, octocat.
github.repository_owner_id string {% data reusables.actions.repository_owner_id-description %}
github.repositoryUrl string The Git URL to the repository. For example, git://github.com/octocat/hello-world.git.
github.retention_days string The number of days that workflow run logs and artifacts are kept.
github.run_id string {% data reusables.actions.run_id_description %}
github.run_number string {% data reusables.actions.run_number_description %}
github.run_attempt string A unique number for each attempt of a particular workflow run in a repository. This number begins at 1 for the workflow run's first attempt, and increments with each re-run.
github.secret_source string The source of a secret used in a workflow. Possible values are None, Actions{% ifversion fpt or ghec %}, Codespaces{% endif %}, or Dependabot.
github.server_url string The URL of the GitHub server. For example: https://github.com.
github.sha string {% data reusables.actions.github_sha_description %}
github.token string A token to authenticate on behalf of the GitHub App installed on your repository. This is functionally equivalent to the GITHUB_TOKEN secret. For more information, see "AUTOTITLE."
Note: This context property is set by the Actions runner, and is only available within the execution steps of a job. Otherwise, the value of this property will be null.
github.triggering_actor string {% data reusables.actions.github-triggering-actor-description %}
github.workflow string The name of the workflow. If the workflow file doesn't specify a name, the value of this property is the full path of the workflow file in the repository.
github.workflow_ref string {% data reusables.actions.workflow-ref-description %}
github.workflow_sha string {% data reusables.actions.workflow-sha-description %}
github.workspace string The default working directory on the runner for steps, and the default location of your repository when using the checkout action.

Example contents of the github context

The following example context is from a workflow run triggered by the push event. The event object in this example has been truncated because it is identical to the contents of the push webhook payload.

{% data reusables.actions.context-example-note %}

{
  "token": "***",
  "job": "dump_contexts_to_log",
  "ref": "refs/heads/my_branch",
  "sha": "c27d339ee6075c1f744c5d4b200f7901aad2c369",
  "repository": "octocat/hello-world",
  "repository_owner": "octocat",
  "repositoryUrl": "git://github.com/octocat/hello-world.git",
  "run_id": "1536140711",
  "run_number": "314",
  "retention_days": "90",
  "run_attempt": "1",
  "actor": "octocat",
  "workflow": "Context testing",
  "head_ref": "",
  "base_ref": "",
  "event_name": "push",
  "event": {
    ...
  },
  "server_url": "https://github.com",
  "api_url": "https://api.github.com",
  "graphql_url": "https://api.github.com/graphql",
  "ref_name": "my_branch",
  "ref_protected": false,
  "ref_type": "branch",
  "secret_source": "Actions",
  "workspace": "/home/runner/work/hello-world/hello-world",
  "action": "github_step",
  "event_path": "/home/runner/work/_temp/_github_workflow/event.json",
  "action_repository": "",
  "action_ref": "",
  "path": "/home/runner/work/_temp/_runner_file_commands/add_path_b037e7b5-1c88-48e2-bf78-eaaab5e02602",
  "env": "/home/runner/work/_temp/_runner_file_commands/set_env_b037e7b5-1c88-48e2-bf78-eaaab5e02602"
}

Example usage of the github context

This example workflow uses the github.event_name context to run a job only if the workflow run was triggered by the pull_request event.

name: Run CI
on: [push, pull_request]

jobs:
  normal_ci:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Run normal CI
        run: echo "Running normal CI"

  pull_request_ci:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    if: {% raw %}${{ github.event_name == 'pull_request' }}{% endraw %}
    steps:
      - name: Run PR CI
        run: echo "Running PR only CI"

env context

The env context contains variables that have been set in a workflow, job, or step. It does not contain variables inherited by the runner process. For more information about setting variables in your workflow, see "AUTOTITLE."

You can retrieve the values of variables stored in env context and use these values in your workflow file. You can use the env context in any key in a workflow step except for the id and uses keys. For more information on the step syntax, see "AUTOTITLE."

If you want to use the value of a variable inside a runner, use the runner operating system's normal method for reading environment variables.

Property name Type Description
env object This context changes for each step in a job. You can access this context from any step in a job. This object contains the properties listed below.
env.<env_name> string The value of a specific environment variable.

Example contents of the env context

The contents of the env context is a mapping of variable names to their values. The context's contents can change depending on where it is used in the workflow run. In this example, the env context contains two variables.

{
  "first_name": "Mona",
  "super_duper_var": "totally_awesome"
}

Example usage of the env context

This example workflow shows variables being set in the env context at the workflow, job, and step levels. The {% raw %}${{ env.VARIABLE-NAME }}{% endraw %} syntax is then used to retrieve variable values within individual steps in the workflow.

{% data reusables.repositories.actions-env-var-note %}

{% raw %}

name: Hi Mascot
on: push
env:
  mascot: Mona
  super_duper_var: totally_awesome

jobs:
  windows_job:
    runs-on: windows-latest
    steps:
      - run: echo 'Hi ${{ env.mascot }}'  # Hi Mona
      - run: echo 'Hi ${{ env.mascot }}'  # Hi Octocat
        env:
          mascot: Octocat
  linux_job:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    env:
      mascot: Tux
    steps:
      - run: echo 'Hi ${{ env.mascot }}'  # Hi Tux

{% endraw %}

vars context

{% data reusables.actions.configuration-variables-beta-note %}

The vars context contains custom configuration variables set at the organization, repository, and environment levels. For more information about defining configuration variables for use in multiple workflows, see "AUTOTITLE".

Example contents of the vars context

The contents of the vars context is a mapping of configuration variable names to their values.

{
  "mascot": "Mona"
}

Example usage of the vars context

This example workflow shows how configuration variables set at the repository, environment, or organization levels are automatically available using the vars context.

{% data reusables.actions.actions-vars-context-example-usage %}

job context

The job context contains information about the currently running job.

Property name Type Description
job object This context changes for each job in a workflow run. You can access this context from any step in a job. This object contains all the properties listed below.
job.container object Information about the job's container. For more information about containers, see "AUTOTITLE."
job.container.id string The ID of the container.
job.container.network string The ID of the container network. The runner creates the network used by all containers in a job.
job.services object The service containers created for a job. For more information about service containers, see "AUTOTITLE."
job.services.<service_id>.id string The ID of the service container.
job.services.<service_id>.network string The ID of the service container network. The runner creates the network used by all containers in a job.
job.services.<service_id>.ports object The exposed ports of the service container.
job.status string The current status of the job. Possible values are success, failure, or cancelled.

Example contents of the job context

This example job context uses a PostgreSQL service container with mapped ports. If there are no containers or service containers used in a job, the job context only contains the status property.

{
  "status": "success",
  "container": {
    "network": "github_network_53269bd575974817b43f4733536b200c"
  },
  "services": {
    "postgres": {
      "id": "60972d9aa486605e66b0dad4abb638dc3d9116f566579e418166eedb8abb9105",
      "ports": {
        "5432": "49153"
      },
      "network": "github_network_53269bd575974817b43f4733536b200c"
    }
  }
}

Example usage of the job context

This example workflow configures a PostgreSQL service container, and automatically maps port 5432 in the service container to a randomly chosen available port on the host. The job context is used to access the number of the port that was assigned on the host.

name: PostgreSQL Service Example
on: push
jobs:
  postgres-job:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    services:
      postgres:
        image: postgres
        env:
          POSTGRES_PASSWORD: postgres
        options: --health-cmd pg_isready --health-interval 10s --health-timeout 5s --health-retries 5
        ports:
          # Maps TCP port 5432 in the service container to a randomly chosen available port on the host.
          - 5432

    steps:
      - run: pg_isready -h localhost -p {% raw %}${{ job.services.postgres.ports[5432] }}{% endraw %}
      - run: echo "Run tests against Postgres"

jobs context

The jobs context is only available in reusable workflows, and can only be used to set outputs for a reusable workflow. For more information, see "AUTOTITLE."

Property name Type Description
jobs object This is only available in reusable workflows, and can only be used to set outputs for a reusable workflow. This object contains all the properties listed below.
jobs.<job_id>.result string The result of a job in the reusable workflow. Possible values are success, failure, cancelled, or skipped.
jobs.<job_id>.outputs object The set of outputs of a job in a reusable workflow.
jobs.<job_id>.outputs.<output_name> string The value of a specific output for a job in a reusable workflow.

Example contents of the jobs context

This example jobs context contains the result and outputs of a job from a reusable workflow run.

{
  "example_job": {
    "result": "success",
    "outputs": {
      "output1": "hello",
      "output2": "world"
    }
  }
}

Example usage of the jobs context

This example reusable workflow uses the jobs context to set outputs for the reusable workflow. Note how the outputs flow up from the steps, to the job, then to the workflow_call trigger. For more information, see "AUTOTITLE."

{% raw %}

name: Reusable workflow

on:
  workflow_call:
    # Map the workflow outputs to job outputs
    outputs:
      firstword:
        description: "The first output string"
        value: ${{ jobs.example_job.outputs.output1 }}
      secondword:
        description: "The second output string"
        value: ${{ jobs.example_job.outputs.output2 }}

jobs:
  example_job:
    name: Generate output
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    # Map the job outputs to step outputs
    outputs:
      output1: ${{ steps.step1.outputs.firstword }}
      output2: ${{ steps.step2.outputs.secondword }}
    steps:
      - id: step1
        run: echo "firstword=hello" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
      - id: step2
        run: echo "secondword=world" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT

{% endraw %}

steps context

The steps context contains information about the steps in the current job that have an id specified and have already run.

Property name Type Description
steps object This context changes for each step in a job. You can access this context from any step in a job. This object contains all the properties listed below.
steps.<step_id>.outputs object The set of outputs defined for the step. For more information, see "AUTOTITLE."
steps.<step_id>.conclusion string The result of a completed step after continue-on-error is applied. Possible values are success, failure, cancelled, or skipped. When a continue-on-error step fails, the outcome is failure, but the final conclusion is success.
steps.<step_id>.outcome string The result of a completed step before continue-on-error is applied. Possible values are success, failure, cancelled, or skipped. When a continue-on-error step fails, the outcome is failure, but the final conclusion is success.
steps.<step_id>.outputs.<output_name> string The value of a specific output.

Example contents of the steps context

This example steps context shows two previous steps that had an id specified. The first step had the id named checkout, the second generate_number. The generate_number step had an output named random_number.

{
  "checkout": {
    "outputs": {},
    "outcome": "success",
    "conclusion": "success"
  },
  "generate_number": {
    "outputs": {
      "random_number": "1"
    },
    "outcome": "success",
    "conclusion": "success"
  }
}

Example usage of the steps context

This example workflow generates a random number as an output in one step, and a later step uses the steps context to read the value of that output.

name: Generate random failure
on: push
jobs:
  randomly-failing-job:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Generate 0 or 1
        id: generate_number
        run:  echo "random_number=$(($RANDOM % 2))" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
      - name: Pass or fail
        run: |
          if [[ {% raw %}${{ steps.generate_number.outputs.random_number }}{% endraw %} == 0 ]]; then exit 0; else exit 1; fi

runner context

The runner context contains information about the runner that is executing the current job.

Property name Type Description
runner object This context changes for each job in a workflow run. This object contains all the properties listed below.
runner.name string {% data reusables.actions.runner-name-description %}
runner.os string {% data reusables.actions.runner-os-description %}
runner.arch string {% data reusables.actions.runner-arch-description %}
runner.temp string {% data reusables.actions.runner-temp-directory-description %}
runner.tool_cache string {% data reusables.actions.runner-tool-cache-description %}
runner.debug string {% data reusables.actions.runner-debug-description %}
runner.environment string {% data reusables.actions.runner-environment-description %}

Example contents of the runner context

The following example context is from a Linux {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %}-hosted runner.

{
  "os": "Linux",
  "arch": "X64",
  "name": "GitHub Actions 2",
  "tool_cache": "/opt/hostedtoolcache",
  "temp": "/home/runner/work/_temp"
  {%- comment %}
  # The `runner.workspace` property is purposefully not documented. It is an early Actions property that now isn't relevant for users, compared to `github.workspace`. It is kept around for compatibility.
  "workspace": "/home/runner/work/hello-world"
  {%- endcomment %}
}

Example usage of the runner context

This example workflow uses the runner context to set the path to the temporary directory to write logs, and if the workflow fails, it uploads those logs as artifact.

name: Build
on: push

jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: {% data reusables.actions.action-checkout %}
      - name: Build with logs
        run: |
          mkdir {% raw %}${{ runner.temp }}{% endraw %}/build_logs
          echo "Logs from building" > {% raw %}${{ runner.temp }}{% endraw %}/build_logs/build.logs
          exit 1
      - name: Upload logs on fail
        if: {% raw %}${{ failure() }}{% endraw %}
        uses: {% data reusables.actions.action-upload-artifact %}
        with:
          name: Build failure logs
          path: {% raw %}${{ runner.temp }}{% endraw %}/build_logs

secrets context

The secrets context contains the names and values of secrets that are available to a workflow run. The secrets context is not available for composite actions due to security reasons. If you want to pass a secret to a composite action, you need to do it explicitly as an input. For more information about secrets, see "AUTOTITLE."

GITHUB_TOKEN is a secret that is automatically created for every workflow run, and is always included in the secrets context. For more information, see "AUTOTITLE."

{% data reusables.actions.secrets-redaction-warning %}

Property name Type Description
secrets object This context is the same for each job in a workflow run. You can access this context from any step in a job. This object contains all the properties listed below.
secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN string Automatically created token for each workflow run. For more information, see "AUTOTITLE."
secrets.<secret_name> string The value of a specific secret.

Example contents of the secrets context

The following example contents of the secrets context shows the automatic GITHUB_TOKEN, as well as two other secrets available to the workflow run.

{
  "github_token": "***",
  "NPM_TOKEN": "***",
  "SUPERSECRET": "***"
}

Example usage of the secrets context

{% data reusables.actions.github_token-input-example %}

strategy context

For workflows with a matrix, the strategy context contains information about the matrix execution strategy for the current job.

Property name Type Description
strategy object This context changes for each job in a workflow run. You can access this context from any job or step in a workflow. This object contains all the properties listed below.
strategy.fail-fast boolean When this evaluates to true, all in-progress jobs are canceled if any job in a matrix fails. For more information, see "AUTOTITLE."
strategy.job-index number The index of the current job in the matrix. Note: This number is a zero-based number. The first job's index in the matrix is 0.
strategy.job-total number The total number of jobs in the matrix. Note: This number is not a zero-based number. For example, for a matrix with four jobs, the value of job-total is 4.
strategy.max-parallel number The maximum number of jobs that can run simultaneously when using a matrix job strategy. For more information, see "AUTOTITLE."

Example contents of the strategy context

The following example contents of the strategy context is from a matrix with four jobs, and is taken from the final job. Note the difference between the zero-based job-index number, and job-total which is not zero-based.

{
  "fail-fast": true,
  "job-index": 3,
  "job-total": 4,
  "max-parallel": 4
}

Example usage of the strategy context

This example workflow uses the strategy.job-index property to set a unique name for a log file for each job in a matrix.

name: Test strategy
on: push

jobs:
  test:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    strategy:
      matrix:
        test-group: [1, 2]
        node: [14, 16]
    steps:
      - run: echo "Mock test logs" > test-job-{% raw %}${{ strategy.job-index }}{% endraw %}.txt
      - name: Upload logs
        uses: {% data reusables.actions.action-upload-artifact %}
        with:
          name: Build log for job {% raw %}${{ strategy.job-index }}{% endraw %}
          path: test-job-{% raw %}${{ strategy.job-index }}{% endraw %}.txt

matrix context

For workflows with a matrix, the matrix context contains the matrix properties defined in the workflow file that apply to the current job. For example, if you configure a matrix with the os and node keys, the matrix context object includes the os and node properties with the values that are being used for the current job.

There are no standard properties in the matrix context, only those which are defined in the workflow file.

Property name Type Description
matrix object This context is only available for jobs in a matrix, and changes for each job in a workflow run. You can access this context from any job or step in a workflow. This object contains the properties listed below.
matrix.<property_name> string The value of a matrix property.

Example contents of the matrix context

The following example contents of the matrix context is from a job in a matrix that has the os and node matrix properties defined in the workflow. The job is executing the matrix combination of an ubuntu-latest OS and Node.js version 16.

{
  "os": "ubuntu-latest",
  "node": 16
}

Example usage of the matrix context

This example workflow creates a matrix with os and node keys. It uses the matrix.os property to set the runner type for each job, and uses the matrix.node property to set the Node.js version for each job.

name: Test matrix
on: push

jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: {% raw %}${{ matrix.os }}{% endraw %}
    strategy:
      matrix:
        os: [ubuntu-latest, windows-latest]
        node: [14, 16]
    steps:
      - uses: {% data reusables.actions.action-setup-node %}
        with:
          node-version: {% raw %}${{ matrix.node }}{% endraw %}
      - name: Output node version
        run: node --version

needs context

The needs context contains outputs from all jobs that are defined as a direct dependency of the current job. Note that this doesn't include implicitly dependent jobs (for example, dependent jobs of a dependent job). For more information on defining job dependencies, see "AUTOTITLE."

Property name Type Description
needs object This context is only populated for workflow runs that have dependent jobs, and changes for each job in a workflow run. You can access this context from any job or step in a workflow. This object contains all the properties listed below.
needs.<job_id> object A single job that the current job depends on.
needs.<job_id>.outputs object The set of outputs of a job that the current job depends on.
needs.<job_id>.outputs.<output name> string The value of a specific output for a job that the current job depends on.
needs.<job_id>.result string The result of a job that the current job depends on. Possible values are success, failure, cancelled, or skipped.

Example contents of the needs context

The following example contents of the needs context shows information for two jobs that the current job depends on.

{
  "build": {
    "result": "success",
    "outputs": {
      "build_id": "123456"
    }
  },
  "deploy": {
    "result": "failure",
    "outputs": {}
  }
}

Example usage of the needs context

This example workflow has three jobs: a build job that does a build, a deploy job that requires the build job, and a debug job that requires both the build and deploy jobs and runs only if there is a failure in the workflow. The deploy job also uses the needs context to access an output from the build job.

name: Build and deploy
on: push

jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    outputs:
      build_id: {% raw %}${{ steps.build_step.outputs.build_id }}{% endraw %}
    steps:
      - name: Build
        id: build_step
        run: echo "build_id=$RANDOM" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
  deploy:
    needs: build
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - run: echo "Deploying build {% raw %}${{ needs.build.outputs.build_id }}{% endraw %}"
  debug:
    needs: [build, deploy]
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    if: {% raw %}${{ failure() }}{% endraw %}
    steps:
      - run: echo "Failed to build and deploy"

inputs context

The inputs context contains input properties passed to an action, to a reusable workflow, or to a manually triggered workflow. For reusable workflows, the input names and types are defined in the workflow_call event configuration of a reusable workflow, and the input values are passed from jobs.<job_id>.with in an external workflow that calls the reusable workflow. For manually triggered workflows, the inputs are defined in the workflow_dispatch event configuration of a workflow.

The properties in the inputs context are defined in the workflow file. They are only available in a reusable workflow or in a workflow triggered by the workflow_dispatch event

Property name Type Description
inputs object This context is only available in a reusable workflow or in a workflow triggered by the workflow_dispatch event. You can access this context from any job or step in a workflow. This object contains the properties listed below.
inputs.<name> string or number or boolean or choice Each input value passed from an external workflow.

Example contents of the inputs context

The following example contents of the inputs context is from a workflow that has defined the build_id, deploy_target, and perform_deploy inputs.

{
  "build_id": 123456768,
  "deploy_target": "deployment_sys_1a",
  "perform_deploy": true
}

Example usage of the inputs context in a reusable workflow

This example reusable workflow uses the inputs context to get the values of the build_id, deploy_target, and perform_deploy inputs that were passed to the reusable workflow from the caller workflow.

{% raw %}

name: Reusable deploy workflow
on:
  workflow_call:
    inputs:
      build_id:
        required: true
        type: number
      deploy_target:
        required: true
        type: string
      perform_deploy:
        required: true
        type: boolean

jobs:
  deploy:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    if: ${{ inputs.perform_deploy }}
    steps:
      - name: Deploy build to target
        run: echo "Deploying build:${{ inputs.build_id }} to target:${{ inputs.deploy_target }}"

{% endraw %}

Example usage of the inputs context in a manually triggered workflow

This example workflow triggered by a workflow_dispatch event uses the inputs context to get the values of the build_id, deploy_target, and perform_deploy inputs that were passed to the workflow.

{% raw %}

on:
  workflow_dispatch:
    inputs:
      build_id:
        required: true
        type: string
      deploy_target:
        required: true
        type: string
      perform_deploy:
        required: true
        type: boolean

jobs:
  deploy:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    if: ${{ inputs.perform_deploy }}
    steps:
      - name: Deploy build to target
        run: echo "Deploying build:${{ inputs.build_id }} to target:${{ inputs.deploy_target }}"

{% endraw %}