Global parameters in Azure Data Factory

APPLIES TO: Azure Data Factory Azure Synapse Analytics

Tip

Try out Data Factory in Microsoft Fabric, an all-in-one analytics solution for enterprises. Microsoft Fabric covers everything from data movement to data science, real-time analytics, business intelligence, and reporting. Learn how to start a new trial for free!

Global parameters are constants across a data factory that can be consumed by a pipeline in any expression. They're useful when you have multiple pipelines with identical parameter names and values. When promoting a data factory using the continuous integration and deployment process (CI/CD), you can override these parameters in each environment.

Creating global parameters

To create a global parameter, go to the Global parameters tab in the Manage section. Select New to open the creation side-nav.

In the side-nav, enter a name, select a data type, and specify the value of your parameter.

After a global parameter is created, you can edit it by clicking the parameter's name. To alter multiple parameters at once, select Edit all.

Using global parameters in a pipeline

Global parameters can be used in any pipeline expression. If a pipeline is referencing another resource such as a dataset or data flow, you can pass down the global parameter value via that resource's parameters. Global parameters are referenced as pipeline().globalParameters.<parameterName>.

Global parameters in CI/CD

We recommend including global parameters in the ARM template during the CI/CD. The new mechanism of including global parameters in the ARM template (from 'Manage hub' -> 'ARM template' -> ‘Include global parameters in ARM template ') as illustrated below, will not conflict/ override the factory-level settings as it used to do earlier, hence not requiring additional PowerShell for global parameters deployment during CI/CD.

Note

We have moved the UI experience for including global parameters from the 'Global parameters' section to the 'ARM template' section in the manage hub. If you are already using the older mechanism (from 'Manage hub' -> 'Global parameters' -> 'Include in ARM template'), you can continue. We will continue to support it.

If you are using the older flow of integrating global parameters in your continuous integration and deployment solution, it will continue to work:

• Include global parameters in the ARM template (from 'Manage hub' -> 'Global parameters' -> 'Include in ARM template')

• Deploy global parameters via a PowerShell script

We strongly recommend using the new mechanism of including global parameters in the ARM template (from 'Manage hub' -> 'ARM template' -> 'Include global parameters in an ARM template') since it makes the CICD with global parameters much more straightforward and easier to manage.

Note

The Include global parameters in an ARM template configuration is only available in "Git mode". Currently it is disabled in "live mode" or "Data Factory" mode.

Warning

You cannot use ‘-‘ in the parameter name. You will receive an errorcode "{"code":"BadRequest","message":"ErrorCode=InvalidTemplate,ErrorMessage=The expression >'pipeline().globalParameters.myparam-dbtest-url' is not valid: .....}". But, you can use the ‘_’ in the parameter name.

Related content

• Learn about Azure Data Factory's continuous integration and deployment process
• Learn how to use the control flow expression language