# !tags

The `!tags` YAML function returns the current component's own `metadata.tags` as a typed list
(`[]string`), without the `!template '{{ toJson .metadata.tags }}'` boilerplate normally needed
to get a properly-typed value out of a template expression.

## Usage

The `!tags` function takes no parameters:

```yaml
components:
  terraform:
    vpc:
      metadata:
        tags: [production, networking, tier-1]
      vars:
        tags: !tags
```

## Arguments

This function takes no arguments. It reads `metadata.tags` from the component it's used on.

## How It Works

When processing the `!tags` YAML function, Atmos reads the `tags` field from the component's own
`metadata` section (the same `metadata.tags` used for `atmos list components --tags` filtering)
and returns it as a `[]string`. If `metadata.tags` is unset, `!tags` returns an empty list rather
than an error, consistent with tags being optional everywhere in Atmos.

## Examples

### Basic Usage

**File:** `stack.yaml`

```yaml
components:
  terraform:
    vpc:
      metadata:
        tags: [production, networking]
      vars:
        # tags will be ["production", "networking"]
        tags: !tags
```

### No Tags Set

**File:** `stack.yaml`

```yaml
components:
  terraform:
    rds:
      vars:
        # tags will be [] (empty list, not an error)
        tags: !tags
```

## Related Functions

- [!labels](/functions/yaml/labels) - Get the current component's own `metadata.labels` as a map
- [!labels.keys](/functions/yaml/labels.keys) - Get the current component's `metadata.labels` keys
- [!labels.values](/functions/yaml/labels.values) - Get the current component's `metadata.labels` values