Use facts.d to add local facts

Short answer

Place a .fact file in /etc/ansible/facts.d and read it as ansible_local after setup runs.

Request

create facts.d preferences.fact and print ansible_local preferences general asdf

Example

A quick heads-up: Every environment is different. Review and test this example before you run it on systems you care about.

---
- name: Add a local fact with facts.d
  hosts: all
  become: true
  gather_facts: false
  tasks:
    - name: Create the facts.d directory
      ansible.builtin.file:
        path: /etc/ansible/facts.d
        state: directory
        mode: "0755"

    - name: Install a static preferences fact
      ansible.builtin.copy:
        dest: /etc/ansible/facts.d/preferences.fact
        mode: "0644"
        content: |
          [general]
          asdf=1
          bar=2

    - name: Re-read local facts
      ansible.builtin.setup:
        filter: ansible_local

    - name: Print the local fact
      ansible.builtin.debug:
        msg: "{{ ansible_local['preferences']['general']['asdf'] }}"

How it works

facts.d files become ansible_local on the next setup run. The file name is the first key. This play prints 1. Re-run setup in the same play if you created the file during that play.

When to use it

• Storing permanent host preferences that setup can read
• Separating site facts from playbook vars

Requirements

• Ansible: >=2.14

Validation

• Syntax validated
• Not execution-tested
• Last verified 2026-09-28