---
title: How to create, manage and delete a Containers namespace
description: Create, manage, and delete namespaces in Scaleway Serverless Containers.
tags: container namespace manage create delete environment variable secret
dates:
  validation: 2025-05-27
  posted: 2021-05-26
---
import Requirements from '@macros/iam/requirements.mdx'


This page shows you how to create and manage a Serverless Containers namespace. [Namespaces](/serverless-containers/concepts/#namespace) allow you to group your containers and share environment variables between them.

<Requirements />

- A Scaleway account logged into the [console](https://console.scaleway.com)
- [Owner](/iam/concepts/#owner) status or [IAM permissions](/iam/concepts/#permission) allowing you to perform actions in the intended Organization

## Creating a Serverless Containers namespace

1. Click **Containers** in the **Serverless** section of the side menu. The list of your containers namespaces displays.
2. Click **Create namespace**. If you have no existing Serverless Containers resources in your current Project, click **Deploy container**.
3. Complete the following steps in the wizard:
    - Enter a **name** or use the automatically generated one. The name must only contain alphanumeric characters and dashes.
    - Enter an optional **description** and **tags**.
    - Choose a **region**, which is the geographical location in which your namespace will be deployed.
    - Enter any **environment variables** required for your namespace. Environment variables configured in a namespace will be available in all containers/apps within the same namespace. For each environment variable, click **+ Add new variable** and enter the key / value pair.
    - Set secret environment variables (optional). **Secrets** are environment variables that are injected into your container and stored securely, but not displayed in the console after initial validation. Add a **key** and a **value**.
    - Verify the **estimated cost**.
4. Click **Create namespace only** to finish, or click **Create namespace and add container** if you want to [deploy a container](/serverless-containers/how-to/deploy-container/) next.

<Message type="tip">
Refer to the [dedicated FAQ](/serverless-containers/faq/#how-do-serverless-functions-namespaces-and-container-registry-namespaces-interact) for more information on how Serverless Containers namespaces and Container Registry namespaces interact.
</Message>

## Managing a Serverless Containers namespace

### Generating and managing access tokens

1. [Create an IAM application](/iam/how-to/create-application/) that will be used as a principal for the policy granting access to your private container.

2. [Create an API key](/iam/how-to/create-api-keys/) for your application. Store the secret key securely, as it is only shown once.

3. [Create an IAM policy](/iam/how-to/create-policy/) with the following elements:
  - **Scope**: the desired Project(s)
  - **Principal**: the application you just created
  - **Permission set**:  `ContainersPrivateAccess`

You can now [use your private key as a token](#using-tokens) to call private containers.

Private containers present in your namespace now require the authentication token to be executed, as shown below:

```curl
  curl -H "X-Auth-Token: <YOUR_CONTAINER_TOKEN>" <YOUR_CONTAINER_ENDPOINT>
```

### Adding and managing environment variables and secrets

The Scaleway console allows you to define environment variables and secrets at the namespace-level to pass to the containers present in the namespace.

1. Click **Containers** in the **Serverless** section of the side menu. The containers page displays.

2. Click the containers namespace you want to manage.

3. Click the **Namespace settings** tab. Information about the region, registry endpoint and description of your namespace display.

4. Add environment variables by clicking the <Icon name="edit" /> icon, **+ Add variable**, entering the key/value pair, and clicking <Icon name="validate"/>.

5. Add secrets by clicking the <Icon name="edit" /> icon, **+ Add secret**, entering the key/value pair, and clicking <Icon name="validate"/>.

The environment variables and secrets defined will now be passed to your containers. Every container in a **ready** state is redeployed to take the change into account.

## Deleting a Serverless Containers namespace

<Message type="important">
  - This action will permanently delete your namespace and all your containers will be lost.
  - This action is irreversible.
  - The Container Registry namespace associated with your Serverless Containers namespace will be deleted.
</Message>

1. Click **Containers** in the **Serverless** section of the side menu. The containers page displays.

2. Click the <Icon name="more" /> icon next to the namespace you want to delete, and select **Delete** from the drop-down menu.

3. Type **DELETE** in the pop-up that asks you to confirm the action, then click **Delete namespace**.

<Message type="tip">
  You can also delete a namespace from the **Namespace settings** tab.
</Message>