Source: https://dev-docs.nebula-graph.io/v5.3.2/database-gql-reference/fe/expressions/binding-variable/
Documentation version: v5.3.2

# Variable value expression

The variable value expression references the field of the record or the fields of the records in the current working dataset.

## Syntax

diagramsource

 variable_value_expression  

````
variable_value_expression ::=
    variable

````

## Parameters

### `variable`

A variable that references a field by its name. The name can be a regular identifier or a delimited identifier enclosed with backticks (```). For more information about identifiers, see [Rules for naming identifiers](https://dev-docs.nebula-graph.io/v5.3.2/database-gql-reference/overview/keywords-identifiers/#rules_for_naming_identifiers).

## Examples

The following examples are based on the [example dataset](https://dev-docs.nebula-graph.io/v5.3.2/database-gql-reference/overview/example-dataset/).

### Define and return fields using variables

````
'''
LET 
  col1 = 3, 
  col2 = LIST[1,2,3,4,5], 
  col3 = "variable definition" 
RETURN 
  col1 AS var1, 
  col2 AS var2, 
  col3 AS var3
'''

````

The preceding statement uses variables `col1`, `col2`, and `col3` to define and return specific fields.

Return:

````
+------+-------------+---------------------+
| var1 | var2        | var3                |
+------+-------------+---------------------+
| 3    | [1,2,3,4,5] | variable definition |
+------+-------------+---------------------+

````

### Use variables to return fields

````
USE movie MATCH (a@`User`)-[e:Watch]->(b) RETURN a, b LIMIT 3

````

The preceding statement uses variables `a` and `b` to specify the fields to be returned from the current working dataset after the MATCH operation is executed.

Return:

````
+------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| a                                        | b                                                                             |
+------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| (288977421288341505@User:Person{id:605}) | (289244237541670913@Movie:Movie{id:129,name:"Sen To Chihiro No Kamikakushi"}) |
| (288969428354203649@User:Person{id:370}) | (289244237541670913@Movie:Movie{id:129,name:"Sen To Chihiro No Kamikakushi"}) |
| (288962762564960258@User:Person{id:129}) | (289244237541670913@Movie:Movie{id:129,name:"Sen To Chihiro No Kamikakushi"}) |
+------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

````