Particle.variable()

Cloud functions

Expose a variable through the Cloud so that it can be called with GET /v1/devices/{DEVICE_ID}/{VARIABLE}. Returns a success value - true when the variable was registered.

Particle.variable registers a variable, so its value can be retrieved from the cloud in the future. You only call Particle.variable once per variable, and the variable is typically a global variable. You can change the value of the underlying global variable as often as you want; the value is only retrieved when requested, so simply changing the global variable does not use any data operations. Each request of the value from the cloud is one data operation. You do not call Particle.variable when you change the value.

The variable must be one of:

A global variable
A static local variable within a function
A class member (with the class allocated as a global or using new, not stack allocated)
A static class member (global, heap, or stack allocated)
Heap allocated storage (new, malloc, etc.)

The underlying variable must not be a local variable allocated on the stack within a function, such as setup(), as the storage for it will go away after the function exits and the variable will not work properly.

// EXAMPLE USAGE

bool flag = false;
int analogvalue = 0;
double tempC = 0;
char *message = "my name is particle";
String aString;

void setup()
{
  Particle.variable("flag", flag);
  Particle.variable("analogvalue", analogvalue);
  Particle.variable("temp", tempC);
  if (Particle.variable("mess", message) == false)
  {
      // variable not registered!
  }
  Particle.variable("mess2", aString);

  pinMode(A0, INPUT);
}

void loop()
{
  // Read the analog value of the sensor (TMP36)
  analogvalue = analogRead(A0);
  // Convert the reading into degree Celsius
  tempC = (((analogvalue * 3.3) / 4095) - 0.5) * 100;
  delay(200);
}

Each variable retrieval uses one Data Operation from your monthly or yearly quota. Setting the variable does not use Data Operations.

Up to 20 cloud variables may be registered and each variable name is limited to a maximum of 12 characters (prior to 0.8.0), 64 characters (since 0.8.0).

Note: Only use letters, numbers, underscores and dashes in variable names. Spaces and special characters may be escaped by different tools and libraries causing unexpected results.

Variables can only be read using the Particle API, or tools that use the API, like the console, CLI, and mobile apps. It's not possible to directly read a variable from another device, even on the same account. Publish and subscribe can be used if you need device-to-device communication.

For non-product devices, only the account that has claimed the device can read variable values from it.

For product devices, if the device is claimed, the device owner's account can read variable values from it. Additionally, the product owner can read variable values whether the device is claimed or not.

When using the default AUTOMATIC system mode, the cloud variables must be registered in the setup() function. The information about registered variables will be sent to the cloud when the setup() function has finished its execution. In the SEMI_AUTOMATIC and MANUAL system modes, the variables must be registered before Particle.connect() is called.

Before 1.5.0: Variable and function registrations are only sent up once, about 30 seconds after connecting to the cloud. When using the AUTOMATIC system mode, make sure you register your cloud variables as early as possible in the setup() function, before you do any lengthy operations, delays, or things like waiting for a key press. Calling Particle.variable() after the registration information has been sent does not re-send the request and the variable will not work.

String data has a maximum size of 255 to 1024 bytes of UTF-8 characters; see API Field Limits as the limit varies depending on Device OS version and sometimes the device. String variables must be UTF-8 encoded. You cannot send arbitrary binary data or other character sets like ISO-8859-1. If you need to send binary data you can use a text-based encoding like Base64.

Prior to 0.4.7 firmware, variables were defined with an additional 3rd parameter to specify the data type of the variable. From 0.4.7 onward, the system can infer the type from the actual variable. Additionally, the variable address was passed via the address-of operator (&). With 0.4.7 and newer, this is no longer required.

// EXAMPLE USAGE - pre-0.4.7 syntax

bool flag = false;
int analogvalue = 0;
double tempC = 0;
char *message = "my name is particle";

void setup()
{
  Particle.variable("flag", &flag, BOOLEAN);
  Particle.variable("analogvalue", &analogvalue, INT);
  Particle.variable("temp", &tempC, DOUBLE);
  if (Particle.variable("mess", message, STRING) == false)
  {
      // variable not registered!
  }
  pinMode(A0, INPUT);
}

There are four supported data types:

BOOLEAN
INT
DOUBLE
STRING (UTF-8 encoded characters)

# EXAMPLE REQUEST IN TERMINAL
# Device ID is 0123456789abcdef
# Your access token is f8a4d380cb6ffffffffffffffffffaf5e496ddf0c0
curl "https://api.particle.io/v1/devices/0123456789abcdef/flag" -H "Authorization: Bearer f8a4d380cb6ffffffffffffffffffaf5e496ddf0c0"
curl "https://api.particle.io/v1/devices/0123456789abcdef/analogvalue" -H "Authorization: Bearer f8a4d380cb6ffffffffffffffffffaf5e496ddf0c0"
curl "https://api.particle.io/v1/devices/0123456789abcdef/temp" -H "Authorization: Bearer f8a4d380cb6ffffffffffffffffffaf5e496ddf0c0"
curl "https://api.particle.io/v1/devices/0123456789abcdef/mess" -H "Authorization: Bearer f8a4d380cb6ffffffffffffffffffaf5e496ddf0c0"

# In return you'll get something like this:
false
960
27.44322344322344
my name is particle