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url: /statelake/tag-reference.md
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# Tags

**Tags** are a mechanism for putting dynamic values into components. For example, when a file is generated, it could use the current system time value as part of its filename.

**Tags** are broken down into several areas, based on the sort of data they reference. There are some pre-defined system Tags, some data dependent Tags based on the datasets that are involved, and it is also possible to have user-defined Tags.

* **System Tags** - these are independent of the data, and they are pre-defined e.g. License Tags, and Standard Tags.
* Data Tags - these tags follow a particular pattern that are referencing data, but will vary depending on the data being processed e.g. Data Tags, and Partner Tags.
* User-defined Tags - defined and controlled by the user e.g. Parameter Tags, Local Global Tags, Super Global Tags.

A key feature or fundamental principle of **Tags** is that they are configured at design time through the component design screens, but they do not involve scripting.

**Tags** can normally be used wherever you would enter normal text values into the main component design screen form. On the other hand, **Tags** cannot be used in a design screen for a component. e.g. the table/field list screens for definitions.

**Tags** are always displayed inside arrows, such as <….>.