Variables power some of the most essential workflows in API development. They help you avoid hardcoding values, seamlessly switch between environments, and collaborate effectively with your team. That’s why they’ve become one of Postman’s most beloved features, used in everything from quick prototypes to enterprise-scale automated testing.
In recent releases, we’ve taken steps to make working with variables more transparent. For example, we introduced the variables pane, which shows you all the variables used in a request in one place. This made it much easier to understand how values are resolved, debug issues, and keep track of the different sources of data that come together during execution.
But we’ve heard your feedback loud and clear: managing variables shouldn’t require a PhD in Postman documentation. With that context in place, this latest release builds on the same principle - helping developers manage variables with less confusion and greater confidence.
The Problem We Set Out to Solve
Picture this scenario: You’re setting up environment variables for your team’s API project. You carefully enter values in what you think is the right field, save your work, and share it with your colleagues. Days later, you discover that sensitive API keys were accidentally synced to a public workspace, or that your teammate’s requests are failing because they’re using different values than expected.
Sound familiar? You’re not alone.
Our previous variable system had two fields - “Initial value” and “Current value”, which created more confusion than clarity:
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Hidden complexity: Only the current value was actually used during execution, but this wasn’t obvious to most users.
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Security risks: Many developers unknowingly store secrets in the initial value, accidentally syncing sensitive data with their teams.
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Cognitive overhead: The terminology lacked clear mental models, forcing users to constantly reference documentation.
These pain points told us it was time for a fundamental redesign.
Simplifying Variables
1. One Value Field to Rule Them All
Before: Two confusing fields (Initial vs. Current)
After: One clear Value field that’s always used during execution
No more guessing which field matters. What you see is exactly what gets executed, every single time.
2. Secure by Default
Before: Values synced automatically, risking accidental exposure
After: All variables are local by default, with explicit sharing controls
Your sensitive data stays on your machine unless you deliberately choose to share it. When you do try to share a variable marked as sensitive, Postman will warn you before syncing. This adds an extra layer of protection against costly mistakes.
3. Autosave That Actually Works
Before: Manual saves that were easy to forget
After: Automatic saving that ensures your workspace always reflects reality
Edit a variable, and it’s immediately saved, and the values reflect in your requests. No more wondering whether your last change took effect, or debugging issues caused by forgotten save clicks.
4. Context Through Descriptions
Before: Variable names had to tell the whole story, or worse, use an initial value for description
After: Rich descriptions that document usage, source, and context
Perfect for onboarding new team members or managing complex environments with dozens of variables. Now your variables can be self-documenting.
Seamless Migration, Zero Headaches
Your existing setup will work seamlessly. This update is fully backwards compatible. Here’s exactly how we handle it:
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Variables with only a current value → Show in the Value field as Unshared
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Variables with an initial value → Appear as Shared in the new interface
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When the initial value = current value → The current value shows in the Value field as Shared
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When initial ≠ current values → Value field displays the current value, marked with an “Edited” state for your review
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Secrets → The value is masked, as it was before.
Your collections, environments, and scripts will continue working exactly as they did before. No migration required.
This release builds on our recent introduction of the variables pane, which gave you visibility into all variables used in a request. Together, these improvements are part of our larger mission: making variable management in Postman intuitive from start to finish.
We believe these changes will make your API development workflow not just easier, but fundamentally more secure and collaborative.
The new simplified variables will gradually be rolled out to all users over the coming weeks. We’re excited to see how this streamlines your development process.
As always, your feedback drives our roadmap. Try out the new variables experience and let us know what you think.
