# Difference between 'segment' and 'dashboard variable'?

**URL:** <https://community.dynatrace.com/t/difference-between-segment-and-dashboard-variable/50650>\
**Category:** Dashboarding\
**Tags:** dql, variables, segments, dashboards\
**Created:** [March 11, 2025, 8:37am UTC](https://community.dynatrace.com/t/difference-between-segment-and-dashboard-variable/50650 "2025-03-11T08:37:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![waikeat\_chan](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/dynatrace/user_avatar/community.dynatrace.com/waikeat_chan/32/33405_2.png) [@waikeat\_chan](https://community.dynatrace.com/u/waikeat_chan)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 8:37am UTC](https://community.dynatrace.com/t/difference-between-segment-and-dashboard-variable/50650/1 "2025-03-11T08:37:43Z")

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Might be a silly question, but I think the answer to this question would help me strengthen my understanding of all the concepts in DT Grail. (and hence, the preparation for the certification later!)

It seems to me there are a lot of overlapping between dashboard variables and segment, in terms of their usage and purpose.

So what is/are the **main** difference/s between these two?

Warm Regards,

Wai Keat

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**Author:** ![p\_devulapalli](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/dynatrace/user_avatar/community.dynatrace.com/p_devulapalli/32/41590_2.png) [@p\_devulapalli](https://community.dynatrace.com/u/p_devulapalli)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2025, 6:00am UTC](https://community.dynatrace.com/t/difference-between-segment-and-dashboard-variable/50650/2 "2025-03-12T06:00:03Z")

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[@waikeat\_chan](https://community.dynatrace.com/user/36245)

Segment are used to logically structure data in Grail and function as filters for data that users are allowed to access based on permissions. Segments can include various types of data, such as monitored entities, logs, metrics, and events.

Dashboard Variables are dynamic placeholders used to filter and customize the data displayed on your dashboards. They allow users to create interactive and flexible dashboards by enabling the selection of different values that can be applied across multiple tiles and queries.

Here is a video which talks a bit about these topics , directly skip to _22:55_&nbsp; _- Segments and Variables_ chapter in the video if you are in a hurry

[![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/dynatrace/original/3X/7/1/71475dac6b2fb5cf33946f2ccfcf402846527f93.jpeg "Dynatrace Dashboard Update December 2024") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjaW2xKWmq4)

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**Author:** ![zietho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/94ad74/32.png) [@zietho](https://community.dynatrace.com/u/zietho)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 6:53am UTC](https://community.dynatrace.com/t/difference-between-segment-and-dashboard-variable/50650/3 "2025-03-31T06:53:22Z")

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In short,

Segments when…

- you need to reuse filters throughout dashboards?
- or, when you already have a segment for common cases such as your Kubernetes cluster, or your team names?
- when an application of filters based on OR is fine

Variables

- If you have a special case, where the application of the filter matters, eg.. a combination of A AND B OR C… , where control matters
- whenever you can’t create a Segment because you might not have permission
- whenever you quickly want to solve a case
- whenever you need to go beyond simple filtering (e.g. hidden variables, dependent variables)