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+---
+stage: Verify
+group: Continuous Integration
+info: To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/engineering/ux/technical-writing/#assignments
+---
+
+# CI/CD YAML reference style guide
+
+The CI/CD YAML reference uses a standard style to make it easier to use and update.
+
+The reference information should be kept as simple as possible, and expanded details
+and examples documented in a separate page.
+
+## YAML reference structure
+
+Every YAML keyword must have its own section in the reference. The sections should
+be nested so that the keywords follow a logical tree structure. For example:
+
+```plaintext
+### `artifacts`
+#### `artifacts:name`
+#### `artifacts:paths`
+#### `artifacts:reports`
+##### `artifacts:reports:dast`
+##### `artifacts:reports:sast`
+```
+
+## YAML reference style
+
+Each keyword entry in the reference should use the following style:
+
+````markdown
+### `keyword-name`
+
+> Version information
+
+Keyword description and main details.
+
+**Keyword type**:
+
+**Possible inputs**:
+
+**Example of `keyword-name`**:
+
+(optional) In this example...
+
+(optional) **Additional details**:
+
+- List of extra details.
+
+(optional) **Related topics**:
+
+- List of links to topics related to the keyword.
+````
+
+- ``### `keyword-name` ``: The keyword name must always be in backticks.
+  If it is a subkey of another keyword, write out all the keywords, with each separated
+  by `:`, for example: `artifacts:reports:dast`.
+
+- ``> Version information``: The [version history details](../documentation/styleguide/index.md#version-text-in-the-version-history).
+  If the keyword is feature flagged, see the [feature flag documentation guide](../documentation/feature_flags.md)
+  as well.
+
+- `Keyword description and main details.`: A simple description of the keyword, and
+  how to use it. Additional use cases and benefits should be added to a page outside
+  the reference document. Link to that document in this section.
+
+- `**Keyword type**:`: Most keywords are defined at the job level, like `script`,
+  or at the pipeline level, like `stages`. Add the appropriate line:
+
+  - `**Keyword type**: Job keyword. You can use it only as part of a job.`
+  - `**Keyword type**: Pipeline keyword. You cannot use it as part of a job.`
+
+  If a keyword can be used at both the job and pipeline level, like `variables`,
+  explain it in detail instead of using the pre-written lines above.
+
+- `**Possible inputs**:`: Explain in detail which inputs the keyword can accept.
+  You can add the details in a sentence, paragraph, or list.
+
+- ``**Example of `keyword-name`**:``: An example configuration that uses the keyword.
+  Do not add extra keywords that are not required to understand the behavior.
+
+- (optional) `In this example...`: If the example needs extra details,
+  add the clarification text below the example.
+
+- (optional) `**Additional details**:` If there are any caveats or extra details you
+  want to document along with the keyword, add each one as a list item here.
+
+- (optional) `**Related topics**:` If there are any other keywords or pages that
+  relate to this keyword, add these links as list items here.
+
+### YAML reference style example
+
+See the [`only:changes` / `except:changes`](../../ci/yaml/README.md#onlychanges--exceptchanges)
+documentation for an example of the YAML reference style. The following example is a
+shortened version of that documentation's Markdown:
+
+````markdown
+#### `only:changes` / `except:changes`
+
+> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-foss/-/issues/19232) in GitLab 11.4.
+
+Use the `changes` keyword with `only` to run a job, or with `except` to skip a job,
+when a Git push event modifies a file.
+
+Use `changes` in pipelines with the following refs:
+
+- `branches`
+- `external_pull_requests`
+- `merge_requests` (see additional details about [using `only:changes` with pipelines for merge requests](../jobs/job_control.md#use-onlychanges-with-pipelines-for-merge-requests))
+
+**Keyword type**: Job keyword. You can use it only as part of a job.
+
+**Possible inputs**: An array including any number of:
+
+- Paths to files.
+- Wildcard paths for single directories, for example `path/to/directory/*`, or a directory
+  and all its subdirectories, for example `path/to/directory/**/*`.
+
+**Example of `only:changes`**:
+
+```yaml
+docker build:
+  script: docker build -t my-image:$CI_COMMIT_REF_SLUG .
+  only:
+    refs:
+      - branches
+    changes:
+      - Dockerfile
+      - docker/scripts/*
+      - dockerfiles/**/*
+```
+
+In this example, `docker build` only runs in branch pipelines, and only if at least one of
+these files changed:
+
+- `Dockerfile`.
+- Any file in `docker/scripts`
+- Any file in `dockerfiles/` or any of its subdirectories.
+
+**Additional details**:
+
+- If you use refs other than `branches`, `external_pull_requests`, or `merge_requests`,
+  `changes` can't determine if a given file is new or old and always returns `true`.
+- If you use `only: changes` with other refs, jobs ignore the changes and always run.
+- If you use `except: changes` with other refs, jobs ignore the changes and never run.
+
+**Related topics**:
+
+- [`only: changes` and `except: changes` examples](../jobs/job_control.md#onlychanges--exceptchanges-examples).
+- If you use `changes` with [only allow merge requests to be merged if the pipeline succeeds](../../user/project/merge_requests/merge_when_pipeline_succeeds.md#only-allow-merge-requests-to-be-merged-if-the-pipeline-succeeds),
+  you should [also use `only:merge_requests`](../jobs/job_control.md#use-onlychanges-with-pipelines-for-merge-requests).
+- Use `changes` with [scheduled pipelines](../jobs/job_control.md#use-onlychanges-with-scheduled-pipelines).
+````