# `aws:updateVariable` – Updates a value for a runbook variable
<a name="automation-action-update-variable"></a>

This action updates a value for a runbook variable. The data type of the value must match the data type of the variable you want to update. Data type conversions aren't supported. The `onCancel` property isn't supported for the `aws:updateVariable` action.

**Input**  
The input is as follows.

------
#### [ YAML ]

```
name: updateStringList
action: aws:updateVariable
inputs:
    Name: variable:{{variable name}}
    Value:
    - "1"
    - "2"
```

------
#### [ JSON ]

```
{
    "name": "updateStringList",
    "action": "aws:updateVariable",
    "inputs": {
        "Name": "variable:{{variable name}}",
        "Value": ["1","2"]
    }
}
```

------

Name  
The name of the variable whose value you want to update. You must use the format `variable:{{variable name}}`  
Type: String  
Required: Yes

Value  
The new value to assign to the variable. The value must match the data type of the variable. Data type conversions aren't supported.  
Type: Boolean \| Integer \| MapList \| String \| StringList \| StringMap  
Required: Yes  
Constraints:  
+ MapList can contain a maximum number of 200 items.
+ Key lengths can be a minimum length of 1 and a maximum length of 50.
+ StringList can be a minimum number of 0 items and a maximum number of 50 items.
+ String lengths can be a minimum length of 1 and a maximum length of 512.Output

None