# Is there a way to rename a variable in Knime? **URL:** \ **Category:** KNIME Analytics Platform\ **Created:** [February 8, 2024, 5:32pm UTC](https://forum.knime.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-rename-a-variable-in-knime/77136 "2024-02-08T17:32:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![prashant7526](https://forum-cdn.knime.com/user_avatar/forum.knime.com/prashant7526/32/78546_2.png) [@prashant7526](https://forum.knime.com/u/prashant7526)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2024, 5:32pm UTC](https://forum.knime.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-rename-a-variable-in-knime/77136/1 "2024-02-08T17:32:25Z")
Hi All, I was looking for the same solution posted on below link: [Is there a way to rename a variable in Knime? - KNIME Analytics Platform - KNIME Community Forum](https://forum.knime.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-rename-a-variable-in-knime/6809) The above post is closed, so I cannot answer it. The Anser is: Yes, there is a way to rename a Variable you can use **Variable Expression Node** ---
**Author:** ![sanket\_2012](https://forum-cdn.knime.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@sanket\_2012](https://forum.knime.com/u/sanket_2012)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2024, 11:42am UTC](https://forum.knime.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-rename-a-variable-in-knime/77136/2 "2024-02-13T11:42:22Z")
Hi @prashant7526 , Welcome to the KNIME forum! Yes, absolutely; that would be another way to rename a variable. Thanks for posting this, and happy KNIMEing šŸ™‚ Thanks, Sanket ---
**Author:** ![tqAkshay95](https://forum-cdn.knime.com/user_avatar/forum.knime.com/tqakshay95/32/67469_2.png) [@tqAkshay95](https://forum.knime.com/u/tqAkshay95)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 9:00am UTC](https://forum.knime.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-rename-a-variable-in-knime/77136/3 "2024-02-15T09:00:39Z")
Hello @sanket_2012 , Yes, it is possible to update the variable name in KNIME by using the Variable Expression node. > **[Variable Expressions](https://hub.knime.com/knime/extensions/org.knime.features.expressions/latest/org.knime.expressions.base.node.variableexpression.VariableExpressionsNodeFactory)** > > This node provides the possibility to append an arbitrary number of flow variables or modify existing variables using expressions. For each variable that shallā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![pstedem](https://forum-cdn.knime.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/45deac/32.png) [@pstedem](https://forum.knime.com/u/pstedem)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2024, 5:34pm UTC](https://forum.knime.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-rename-a-variable-in-knime/77136/4 "2024-03-24T17:34:00Z")
Hi @prashant7526, thx for your hint, but I still donā€™t get it right. What exactly do I have to do to rename/update a variableā€™s name? I encountered, that the checkbox for ā€œReplace Variableā€ just replaces the old value, but doesnā€™t change the name of the variable. If I want the right named variable I only get it without replacing it and save it as a new variable, that sits right next to the old one, with no chance of deleting the old one. Do I oversee something? Please help. Thanks šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![takbb](https://forum-cdn.knime.com/user_avatar/forum.knime.com/takbb/32/57077_2.png) [@takbb](https://forum.knime.com/u/takbb)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2024, 6:46pm UTC](https://forum.knime.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-rename-a-variable-in-knime/77136/5 "2024-03-24T18:46:24Z")
I agree @pstedem , I donā€™t see how Variable Expressions can ā€œrenameā€ a variable. It can copy it, but the old variable surely remains. @prashant7526, and @tqAkshay95 are you sure it can _rename_ a variable? Iā€™d certainly be interested to see this demonstratedā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![ArjenEX](https://forum-cdn.knime.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/97f17d/32.png) [@ArjenEX](https://forum.knime.com/u/ArjenEX)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2024, 7:07pm UTC](https://forum.knime.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-rename-a-variable-in-knime/77136/6 "2024-03-24T19:07:20Z")
You can probably wait until forever šŸ™‚ As per the OPā€™s link, this topic has been around for ages. Itā€™s probably for a reason why KNIME devs arenā€™t very keen on implementing this. My assumption would be that variables either originates from table columns (which you can rename in advance) or by manual creation (whereby you have control of the name.) So Iā€™m curious about the use case where having such a node would come into play. ---
**Author:** ![takbb](https://forum-cdn.knime.com/user_avatar/forum.knime.com/takbb/32/57077_2.png) [@takbb](https://forum.knime.com/u/takbb)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2024, 8:04pm UTC](https://forum.knime.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-rename-a-variable-in-knime/77136/7 "2024-03-24T20:04:00Z")
> [@ArjenEX](#): > > You can probably wait until forever šŸ™‚ Lol @ArjenEX @prashant7526 , if you do have a use case where perhaps a specific node creates a variable with a name over which you have no control, and you actually want it to have a different nameā€¦ The only way I know of achieving that is to create a component and have the original variable creation occur _inside_ the component. You would then replicate that variable using something like Variable Expressions and then on the exit from the component you only let the new variable leave the component (by configuring the Component Output node). All flow variables created _inside_ a component do not exit the component unless explicitly allowed to leave. To be honest you have to really want the name to be different. It feels like a lot of effort for a variable name. šŸ˜‰ (welcome to the KNIME forum, btw) ---
**Author:** ![pstedem](https://forum-cdn.knime.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/45deac/32.png) [@pstedem](https://forum.knime.com/u/pstedem)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2024, 4:34pm UTC](https://forum.knime.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-rename-a-variable-in-knime/77136/8 "2024-03-25T16:34:57Z")
Thank you šŸ™‚ For me the use case is in that cases, where variables originate from table columns/rows (i. e. ā€˜Table Column to Variableā€™). @ArjenEX You are right with, that I could work on the naming in advance. But in some cases I would find it more convenient to update the variableā€™s name afterwards. (i. e. in ā€™ Variable Expression Nodeā€™) The method of creating the variable in a component sounds interesting. But like you say @takbb: It seems like a lot of effort. I wouldnā€™t choose that method either. šŸ˜„ So, in conclusion I will have to find a way to control the variableā€™s names beforehand, rather than get confused with meaningless variableā€™s names. ---
**Author:** ![prashant7526](https://forum-cdn.knime.com/user_avatar/forum.knime.com/prashant7526/32/78546_2.png) [@prashant7526](https://forum.knime.com/u/prashant7526)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2024, 3:34pm UTC](https://forum.knime.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-rename-a-variable-in-knime/77136/9 "2024-04-04T15:34:13Z")
I mean, we can create a new variable with a different name. In my case, I needed a specific name. So, I copied the older stay, but the point is that it solved my purpose of having a specific name for the Variable (that is why I wanted the option of renaming, right?) ---
**Author:** ![takbb](https://forum-cdn.knime.com/user_avatar/forum.knime.com/takbb/32/57077_2.png) [@takbb](https://forum.knime.com/u/takbb)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2024, 3:50pm UTC](https://forum.knime.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-rename-a-variable-in-knime/77136/10 "2024-04-04T15:50:06Z")
Hi @prashant7526, Iā€™d suggest you are actually _copying_ or _duplicating_ a variable rather than _renaming_ it, but if your aim is simply to have a new variable (with a specific name) that contains the original value then thatā€™s great. There is currently no facility to actually _rename_ a variable in KNIME, such that the old variable name ceases to exist, but youā€™re right that this may not matter. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://forum-cdn.knime.com/uploads/default/original/1X/ab3ccf34482a0329361734a18199390177204f15.png) [@system](https://forum.knime.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2024, 3:50pm UTC](https://forum.knime.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-rename-a-variable-in-knime/77136/11 "2024-07-03T15:50:26Z")
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