diff --git a/public/app/app.ts b/public/app/app.ts
index 87a7bd0970a..d1ba7518b9f 100644
--- a/public/app/app.ts
+++ b/public/app/app.ts
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ import { PerformanceBackend } from './core/services/echo/backends/PerformanceBac
 import 'app/routes/GrafanaCtrl';
 import 'app/features/all';
 import { getStandardFieldConfigs } from '@grafana/ui';
+import { getDefaultVariableAdapters, variableAdapters } from './features/variables/adapters';
 
 // add move to lodash for backward compatabiltiy
 // @ts-ignore
@@ -84,6 +85,7 @@ export class GrafanaApp {
 
     setMarkdownOptions({ sanitize: !config.disableSanitizeHtml });
     standardFieldConfigEditorRegistry.setInit(getStandardFieldConfigs);
+    variableAdapters.setInit(getDefaultVariableAdapters);
 
     app.config(
       (
diff --git a/public/app/features/dashboard/state/initDashboard.ts b/public/app/features/dashboard/state/initDashboard.ts
index 45f59d4c382..b21a15e769e 100644
--- a/public/app/features/dashboard/state/initDashboard.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/dashboard/state/initDashboard.ts
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ export function initDashboard(args: InitDashboardArgs): ThunkResult<void> {
         const list =
           dashboard.variables.list.length > 0
             ? dashboard.variables.list
-            : dashboard.templating.list.filter(v => variableAdapters.contains(v.type));
+            : dashboard.templating.list.filter(v => variableAdapters.getIfExists(v.type));
         await dispatch(initDashboardTemplating(list));
         await dispatch(processVariables());
       }
diff --git a/public/app/features/templating/all.ts b/public/app/features/templating/all.ts
index 9448bb1c25e..9431c3d036c 100644
--- a/public/app/features/templating/all.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/templating/all.ts
@@ -10,14 +10,6 @@ import { CustomVariable } from './custom_variable';
 import { ConstantVariable } from './constant_variable';
 import { AdhocVariable } from './adhoc_variable';
 import { TextBoxVariable } from './TextBoxVariable';
-import { variableAdapters } from '../variables/adapters';
-import { createQueryVariableAdapter } from '../variables/query/adapter';
-import { createCustomVariableAdapter } from '../variables/custom/adapter';
-import { createTextBoxVariableAdapter } from '../variables/textbox/adapter';
-import { createConstantVariableAdapter } from '../variables/constant/adapter';
-import { createDataSourceVariableAdapter } from '../variables/datasource/adapter';
-import { createAdHocVariableAdapter } from '../variables/adhoc/adapter';
-import { createIntervalVariableAdapter } from '../variables/interval/adapter';
 
 coreModule.factory('templateSrv', () => templateSrv);
 
@@ -31,11 +23,3 @@ export {
   AdhocVariable,
   TextBoxVariable,
 };
-
-variableAdapters.set('query', createQueryVariableAdapter());
-variableAdapters.set('custom', createCustomVariableAdapter());
-variableAdapters.set('textbox', createTextBoxVariableAdapter());
-variableAdapters.set('constant', createConstantVariableAdapter());
-variableAdapters.set('datasource', createDataSourceVariableAdapter());
-variableAdapters.set('adhoc', createAdHocVariableAdapter());
-variableAdapters.set('interval', createIntervalVariableAdapter());
diff --git a/public/app/features/variables/adapters.ts b/public/app/features/variables/adapters.ts
index 3f25beef17d..a9bfc21e40a 100644
--- a/public/app/features/variables/adapters.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/variables/adapters.ts
@@ -2,14 +2,34 @@ import { ComponentType } from 'react';
 import { Reducer } from 'redux';
 import { UrlQueryValue } from '@grafana/runtime';
 
-import { VariableModel, VariableOption, VariableType } from '../templating/variable';
+import {
+  AdHocVariableModel,
+  ConstantVariableModel,
+  CustomVariableModel,
+  DataSourceVariableModel,
+  IntervalVariableModel,
+  QueryVariableModel,
+  TextBoxVariableModel,
+  VariableModel,
+  VariableOption,
+  VariableType,
+} from '../templating/variable';
 import { VariableEditorProps } from './editor/types';
 import { VariablesState } from './state/variablesReducer';
 import { VariablePickerProps } from './pickers/types';
+import { Registry } from '@grafana/data';
+import { createQueryVariableAdapter } from './query/adapter';
+import { createCustomVariableAdapter } from './custom/adapter';
+import { createTextBoxVariableAdapter } from './textbox/adapter';
+import { createConstantVariableAdapter } from './constant/adapter';
+import { createDataSourceVariableAdapter } from './datasource/adapter';
+import { createIntervalVariableAdapter } from './interval/adapter';
+import { createAdHocVariableAdapter } from './adhoc/adapter';
 
 export interface VariableAdapter<Model extends VariableModel> {
+  id: VariableType;
   description: string;
-  label: string;
+  name: string;
   initialState: Model;
   dependsOn: (variable: Model, variableToTest: Model) => boolean;
   setValue: (variable: Model, option: VariableOption, emitChanges?: boolean) => Promise<void>;
@@ -22,40 +42,24 @@ export interface VariableAdapter<Model extends VariableModel> {
   reducer: Reducer<VariablesState>;
 }
 
-const allVariableAdapters: Record<VariableType, VariableAdapter<any> | null> = {
-  interval: null,
-  query: null,
-  datasource: null,
-  custom: null,
-  constant: null,
-  adhoc: null,
-  textbox: null,
-};
+export type VariableModels =
+  | QueryVariableModel
+  | CustomVariableModel
+  | TextBoxVariableModel
+  | ConstantVariableModel
+  | DataSourceVariableModel
+  | IntervalVariableModel
+  | AdHocVariableModel;
+export type VariableTypeRegistry<Model extends VariableModel = VariableModel> = Registry<VariableAdapter<Model>>;
 
-export interface VariableAdapters {
-  contains: (type: VariableType) => boolean;
-  get: (type: VariableType) => VariableAdapter<any>;
-  set: (type: VariableType, adapter: VariableAdapter<any>) => void;
-  registeredTypes: () => Array<{ type: VariableType; label: string }>;
-}
-
-export const variableAdapters: VariableAdapters = {
-  contains: (type: VariableType): boolean => !!allVariableAdapters[type],
-  get: (type: VariableType): VariableAdapter<any> => {
-    if (allVariableAdapters[type] !== null) {
-      // @ts-ignore
-      // Suppressing strict null check in this case we know that this is an instance otherwise we throw
-      // Type 'VariableAdapter<any, any> | null' is not assignable to type 'VariableAdapter<any, any>'.
-      // Type 'null' is not assignable to type 'VariableAdapter<any, any>'.
-      return allVariableAdapters[type];
-    }
+export const getDefaultVariableAdapters = () => [
+  createQueryVariableAdapter(),
+  createCustomVariableAdapter(),
+  createTextBoxVariableAdapter(),
+  createConstantVariableAdapter(),
+  createDataSourceVariableAdapter(),
+  createIntervalVariableAdapter(),
+  createAdHocVariableAdapter(),
+];
 
-    throw new Error(`There is no adapter for type:${type}`);
-  },
-  set: (type, adapter) => (allVariableAdapters[type] = adapter),
-  registeredTypes: (): Array<{ type: VariableType; label: string }> => {
-    return Object.keys(allVariableAdapters)
-      .filter((key: VariableType) => allVariableAdapters[key] !== null)
-      .map((key: VariableType) => ({ type: key, label: allVariableAdapters[key]!.label }));
-  },
-};
+export const variableAdapters: VariableTypeRegistry = new Registry<VariableAdapter<VariableModels>>();
diff --git a/public/app/features/variables/adhoc/actions.test.ts b/public/app/features/variables/adhoc/actions.test.ts
index f57e089e8e7..c28cfea774a 100644
--- a/public/app/features/variables/adhoc/actions.test.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/variables/adhoc/actions.test.ts
@@ -40,9 +40,9 @@ type ReducersUsedInContext = {
   location: LocationState;
 };
 
-describe('adhoc actions', () => {
-  variableAdapters.set('adhoc', createAdHocVariableAdapter());
+variableAdapters.setInit(() => [createAdHocVariableAdapter()]);
 
+describe('adhoc actions', () => {
   describe('when applyFilterFromTable is dispatched and filter already exist', () => {
     it('then correct actions are dispatched', async () => {
       const options: AdHocTableOptions = {
diff --git a/public/app/features/variables/adhoc/adapter.ts b/public/app/features/variables/adhoc/adapter.ts
index 9849b5457d0..b5a3cd5d12e 100644
--- a/public/app/features/variables/adhoc/adapter.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/variables/adhoc/adapter.ts
@@ -12,8 +12,9 @@ const noop = async () => {};
 
 export const createAdHocVariableAdapter = (): VariableAdapter<AdHocVariableModel> => {
   return {
+    id: 'adhoc',
     description: 'Add key/value filters on the fly',
-    label: 'Ad hoc filters',
+    name: 'Ad hoc filters',
     initialState: initialAdHocVariableModelState,
     reducer: adHocVariableReducer,
     picker: AdHocPicker,
diff --git a/public/app/features/variables/constant/actions.test.ts b/public/app/features/variables/constant/actions.test.ts
index 019a3d0823e..ad4551ce4e8 100644
--- a/public/app/features/variables/constant/actions.test.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/variables/constant/actions.test.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import { setCurrentVariableValue } from '../state/sharedReducer';
 import { initDashboardTemplating } from '../state/actions';
 
 describe('constant actions', () => {
-  variableAdapters.set('constant', createConstantVariableAdapter());
+  variableAdapters.setInit(() => [createConstantVariableAdapter()]);
 
   describe('when updateConstantVariableOptions is dispatched', () => {
     it('then correct actions are dispatched', async () => {
diff --git a/public/app/features/variables/constant/adapter.ts b/public/app/features/variables/constant/adapter.ts
index e31061360ed..3dd2e13f1f4 100644
--- a/public/app/features/variables/constant/adapter.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/variables/constant/adapter.ts
@@ -11,8 +11,9 @@ import { toVariableIdentifier } from '../state/types';
 
 export const createConstantVariableAdapter = (): VariableAdapter<ConstantVariableModel> => {
   return {
+    id: 'constant',
     description: 'Define a hidden constant variable, useful for metric prefixes in dashboards you want to share',
-    label: 'Constant',
+    name: 'Constant',
     initialState: initialConstantVariableModelState,
     reducer: constantVariableReducer,
     picker: OptionsPicker,
diff --git a/public/app/features/variables/custom/actions.test.ts b/public/app/features/variables/custom/actions.test.ts
index 65424eb3d48..305b631df30 100644
--- a/public/app/features/variables/custom/actions.test.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/variables/custom/actions.test.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import { TemplatingState } from '../state/reducers';
 import { createCustomOptionsFromQuery } from './reducer';
 
 describe('custom actions', () => {
-  variableAdapters.set('custom', createCustomVariableAdapter());
+  variableAdapters.setInit(() => [createCustomVariableAdapter()]);
 
   describe('when updateCustomVariableOptions is dispatched', () => {
     it('then correct actions are dispatched', async () => {
diff --git a/public/app/features/variables/custom/adapter.ts b/public/app/features/variables/custom/adapter.ts
index 50bd28ecbd6..0f40bc3f60f 100644
--- a/public/app/features/variables/custom/adapter.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/variables/custom/adapter.ts
@@ -11,8 +11,9 @@ import { ALL_VARIABLE_TEXT, toVariableIdentifier } from '../state/types';
 
 export const createCustomVariableAdapter = (): VariableAdapter<CustomVariableModel> => {
   return {
+    id: 'custom',
     description: 'Define variable values manually',
-    label: 'Custom',
+    name: 'Custom',
     initialState: initialCustomVariableModelState,
     reducer: customVariableReducer,
     picker: OptionsPicker,
diff --git a/public/app/features/variables/datasource/actions.test.ts b/public/app/features/variables/datasource/actions.test.ts
index 6d9d8a0996e..f7e68ec24f8 100644
--- a/public/app/features/variables/datasource/actions.test.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/variables/datasource/actions.test.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import { changeVariableEditorExtended } from '../editor/reducer';
 import { datasourceBuilder } from '../shared/testing/builders';
 
 describe('data source actions', () => {
-  variableAdapters.set('datasource', createDataSourceVariableAdapter());
+  variableAdapters.setInit(() => [createDataSourceVariableAdapter()]);
 
   describe('when updateDataSourceVariableOptions is dispatched', () => {
     describe('and there is no regex', () => {
diff --git a/public/app/features/variables/datasource/adapter.ts b/public/app/features/variables/datasource/adapter.ts
index d8b05bd8ee3..a03ca9a8704 100644
--- a/public/app/features/variables/datasource/adapter.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/variables/datasource/adapter.ts
@@ -11,8 +11,9 @@ import { updateDataSourceVariableOptions } from './actions';
 
 export const createDataSourceVariableAdapter = (): VariableAdapter<DataSourceVariableModel> => {
   return {
+    id: 'datasource',
     description: 'Enabled you to dynamically switch the datasource for multiple panels',
-    label: 'Datasource',
+    name: 'Datasource',
     initialState: initialDataSourceVariableModelState,
     reducer: dataSourceVariableReducer,
     picker: OptionsPicker,
diff --git a/public/app/features/variables/editor/VariableEditorEditor.tsx b/public/app/features/variables/editor/VariableEditorEditor.tsx
index 719ea26036e..e5868dc8f8e 100644
--- a/public/app/features/variables/editor/VariableEditorEditor.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/variables/editor/VariableEditorEditor.tsx
@@ -143,9 +143,9 @@ export class VariableEditorEditorUnConnected extends PureComponent<Props> {
                     onChange={this.onTypeChange}
                     aria-label={e2e.pages.Dashboard.Settings.Variables.Edit.General.selectors.generalTypeSelect}
                   >
-                    {variableAdapters.registeredTypes().map(item => (
-                      <option key={item.type} label={item.label} value={item.type}>
-                        {item.label}
+                    {variableAdapters.list().map(({ id, name }) => (
+                      <option key={id} label={name} value={id}>
+                        {name}
                       </option>
                     ))}
                   </select>
diff --git a/public/app/features/variables/interval/actions.test.ts b/public/app/features/variables/interval/actions.test.ts
index 1f8a1719cb7..973f7862c6f 100644
--- a/public/app/features/variables/interval/actions.test.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/variables/interval/actions.test.ts
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import { TemplateSrv } from '../../templating/template_srv';
 import { intervalBuilder } from '../shared/testing/builders';
 
 describe('interval actions', () => {
-  variableAdapters.set('interval', createIntervalVariableAdapter());
+  variableAdapters.setInit(() => [createIntervalVariableAdapter()]);
   describe('when updateIntervalVariableOptions is dispatched', () => {
     it('then correct actions are dispatched', async () => {
       const interval = intervalBuilder()
diff --git a/public/app/features/variables/interval/adapter.ts b/public/app/features/variables/interval/adapter.ts
index 9228fb272f8..a38f28126d1 100644
--- a/public/app/features/variables/interval/adapter.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/variables/interval/adapter.ts
@@ -11,8 +11,9 @@ import { updateAutoValue, updateIntervalVariableOptions } from './actions';
 
 export const createIntervalVariableAdapter = (): VariableAdapter<IntervalVariableModel> => {
   return {
+    id: 'interval',
     description: 'Define a timespan interval (ex 1m, 1h, 1d)',
-    label: 'Interval',
+    name: 'Interval',
     initialState: initialIntervalVariableModelState,
     reducer: intervalVariableReducer,
     picker: OptionsPicker,
diff --git a/public/app/features/variables/pickers/OptionsPicker/actions.test.ts b/public/app/features/variables/pickers/OptionsPicker/actions.test.ts
index 2ab8b2f40a8..f044ec1ce9c 100644
--- a/public/app/features/variables/pickers/OptionsPicker/actions.test.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/variables/pickers/OptionsPicker/actions.test.ts
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ jest.mock('@grafana/runtime', () => {
 });
 
 describe('options picker actions', () => {
-  variableAdapters.set('query', createQueryVariableAdapter());
+  variableAdapters.setInit(() => [createQueryVariableAdapter()]);
 
   describe('when navigateOptions is dispatched with navigation key cancel', () => {
     it('then correct actions are dispatched', async () => {
diff --git a/public/app/features/variables/query/actions.test.ts b/public/app/features/variables/query/actions.test.ts
index 8133f8c630c..927258576ac 100644
--- a/public/app/features/variables/query/actions.test.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/variables/query/actions.test.ts
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ jest.mock('../../plugins/plugin_loader', () => ({
 }));
 
 describe('query actions', () => {
-  variableAdapters.set('query', createQueryVariableAdapter());
+  variableAdapters.setInit(() => [createQueryVariableAdapter()]);
 
   describe('when updateQueryVariableOptions is dispatched for variable with tags and includeAll', () => {
     it('then correct actions are dispatched', async () => {
diff --git a/public/app/features/variables/query/adapter.ts b/public/app/features/variables/query/adapter.ts
index abba5da0025..6949c01fcdf 100644
--- a/public/app/features/variables/query/adapter.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/variables/query/adapter.ts
@@ -12,8 +12,9 @@ import { ALL_VARIABLE_TEXT, toVariableIdentifier } from '../state/types';
 
 export const createQueryVariableAdapter = (): VariableAdapter<QueryVariableModel> => {
   return {
+    id: 'query',
     description: 'Variable values are fetched from a datasource query',
-    label: 'Query',
+    name: 'Query',
     initialState: initialQueryVariableModelState,
     reducer: queryVariableReducer,
     picker: OptionsPicker,
diff --git a/public/app/features/variables/state/actions.test.ts b/public/app/features/variables/state/actions.test.ts
index 15cd0f6ff8f..f5122537cd4 100644
--- a/public/app/features/variables/state/actions.test.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/variables/state/actions.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import { AnyAction } from 'redux';
 import { UrlQueryMap } from '@grafana/runtime';
-import { dateTime, TimeRange } from '@grafana/data';
 
 import { getTemplatingAndLocationRootReducer, getTemplatingRootReducer } from './helpers';
 import { variableAdapters } from '../adapters';
@@ -8,49 +7,29 @@ import { createQueryVariableAdapter } from '../query/adapter';
 import { createCustomVariableAdapter } from '../custom/adapter';
 import { createTextBoxVariableAdapter } from '../textbox/adapter';
 import { createConstantVariableAdapter } from '../constant/adapter';
-import { createIntervalVariableAdapter } from '../interval/adapter';
 import { reduxTester } from '../../../../test/core/redux/reduxTester';
 import { TemplatingState } from 'app/features/variables/state/reducers';
-import {
-  initDashboardTemplating,
-  onTimeRangeUpdated,
-  OnTimeRangeUpdatedDependencies,
-  processVariables,
-  setOptionFromUrl,
-  validateVariableSelectionState,
-} from './actions';
-import {
-  addInitLock,
-  addVariable,
-  removeInitLock,
-  removeVariable,
-  resolveInitLock,
-  setCurrentVariableValue,
-} from './sharedReducer';
-import { NEW_VARIABLE_ID, toVariableIdentifier, toVariablePayload } from './types';
-import { changeVariableName } from '../editor/actions';
-import { changeVariableNameFailed, changeVariableNameSucceeded, setIdInEditor } from '../editor/reducer';
-import { TemplateSrv } from '../../templating/template_srv';
-import { Emitter } from '../../../core/core';
-import { VariableRefresh } from '../../templating/variable';
-import { DashboardModel } from '../../dashboard/state';
-import { DashboardState } from '../../../types';
+import { initDashboardTemplating, processVariables, setOptionFromUrl, validateVariableSelectionState } from './actions';
+import { addInitLock, addVariable, removeInitLock, resolveInitLock, setCurrentVariableValue } from './sharedReducer';
+import { toVariableIdentifier, toVariablePayload } from './types';
 import {
   constantBuilder,
   customBuilder,
   datasourceBuilder,
-  intervalBuilder,
   queryBuilder,
   textboxBuilder,
 } from '../shared/testing/builders';
 
+variableAdapters.setInit(() => [
+  createQueryVariableAdapter(),
+  createCustomVariableAdapter(),
+  createTextBoxVariableAdapter(),
+  createConstantVariableAdapter(),
+]);
+
 describe('shared actions', () => {
   describe('when initDashboardTemplating is dispatched', () => {
     it('then correct actions are dispatched', () => {
-      variableAdapters.set('query', createQueryVariableAdapter());
-      variableAdapters.set('custom', createCustomVariableAdapter());
-      variableAdapters.set('textbox', createTextBoxVariableAdapter());
-      variableAdapters.set('constant', createConstantVariableAdapter());
       const query = queryBuilder().build();
       const constant = constantBuilder().build();
       const datasource = datasourceBuilder().build();
@@ -98,10 +77,6 @@ describe('shared actions', () => {
 
   describe('when processVariables is dispatched', () => {
     it('then correct actions are dispatched', async () => {
-      variableAdapters.set('query', createQueryVariableAdapter());
-      variableAdapters.set('custom', createCustomVariableAdapter());
-      variableAdapters.set('textbox', createTextBoxVariableAdapter());
-      variableAdapters.set('constant', createConstantVariableAdapter());
       const query = queryBuilder().build();
       const constant = constantBuilder().build();
       const datasource = datasourceBuilder().build();
@@ -161,7 +136,6 @@ describe('shared actions', () => {
       ${null}       | ${[null]}
       ${undefined}  | ${[undefined]}
     `('and urlValue is $urlValue then correct actions are dispatched', async ({ urlValue, expected }) => {
-      variableAdapters.set('custom', createCustomVariableAdapter());
       const custom = customBuilder()
         .withId('0')
         .withOptions('A', 'B', 'C')
@@ -195,7 +169,6 @@ describe('shared actions', () => {
         ${['A', 'B', 'C']} | ${'X'}       | ${'C'}       | ${'C'}
         ${undefined}       | ${'B'}       | ${undefined} | ${'A'}
       `('then correct actions are dispatched', async ({ withOptions, withCurrent, defaultValue, expected }) => {
-        variableAdapters.set('custom', createCustomVariableAdapter());
         let custom;
 
         if (!withOptions) {
@@ -249,7 +222,6 @@ describe('shared actions', () => {
       `(
         'then correct actions are dispatched',
         async ({ withOptions, withCurrent, defaultValue, expectedText, expectedSelected }) => {
-          variableAdapters.set('custom', createCustomVariableAdapter());
           let custom;
 
           if (!withOptions) {
@@ -294,311 +266,4 @@ describe('shared actions', () => {
       );
     });
   });
-
-  describe('when onTimeRangeUpdated is dispatched', () => {
-    const getOnTimeRangeUpdatedContext = (args: { update?: boolean; throw?: boolean }) => {
-      const range: TimeRange = {
-        from: dateTime(new Date().getTime()).subtract(1, 'minutes'),
-        to: dateTime(new Date().getTime()),
-        raw: {
-          from: 'now-1m',
-          to: 'now',
-        },
-      };
-      const updateTimeRangeMock = jest.fn();
-      const templateSrvMock = ({ updateTimeRange: updateTimeRangeMock } as unknown) as TemplateSrv;
-      const emitMock = jest.fn();
-      const appEventsMock = ({ emit: emitMock } as unknown) as Emitter;
-      const dependencies: OnTimeRangeUpdatedDependencies = { templateSrv: templateSrvMock, appEvents: appEventsMock };
-      const templateVariableValueUpdatedMock = jest.fn();
-      const dashboard = ({
-        getModel: () =>
-          (({
-            templateVariableValueUpdated: templateVariableValueUpdatedMock,
-            startRefresh: startRefreshMock,
-          } as unknown) as DashboardModel),
-      } as unknown) as DashboardState;
-      const startRefreshMock = jest.fn();
-      const adapter = createIntervalVariableAdapter();
-      adapter.updateOptions = args.throw
-        ? jest.fn().mockRejectedValue('Something broke')
-        : jest.fn().mockResolvedValue({});
-      variableAdapters.set('interval', adapter);
-      variableAdapters.set('constant', createConstantVariableAdapter());
-
-      // initial variable state
-      const initialVariable = intervalBuilder()
-        .withId('interval-0')
-        .withName('interval-0')
-        .withOptions('1m', '10m', '30m', '1h', '6h', '12h', '1d', '7d', '14d', '30d')
-        .withCurrent('1m')
-        .withRefresh(VariableRefresh.onTimeRangeChanged)
-        .build();
-
-      // the constant variable should be filtered out
-      const constant = constantBuilder()
-        .withId('constant-1')
-        .withName('constant-1')
-        .withOptions('a constant')
-        .withCurrent('a constant')
-        .build();
-      const initialState = {
-        templating: { variables: { 'interval-0': { ...initialVariable }, 'constant-1': { ...constant } } },
-        dashboard,
-      };
-
-      // updated variable state
-      const updatedVariable = intervalBuilder()
-        .withId('interval-0')
-        .withName('interval-0')
-        .withOptions('1m')
-        .withCurrent('1m')
-        .withRefresh(VariableRefresh.onTimeRangeChanged)
-        .build();
-
-      const variable = args.update ? { ...updatedVariable } : { ...initialVariable };
-      const state = { templating: { variables: { 'interval-0': variable, 'constant-1': { ...constant } } }, dashboard };
-      const getStateMock = jest
-        .fn()
-        .mockReturnValueOnce(initialState)
-        .mockReturnValue(state);
-      const dispatchMock = jest.fn();
-
-      return {
-        range,
-        dependencies,
-        dispatchMock,
-        getStateMock,
-        updateTimeRangeMock,
-        templateVariableValueUpdatedMock,
-        startRefreshMock,
-        emitMock,
-      };
-    };
-
-    describe('and options are changed by update', () => {
-      it('then correct dependencies are called', async () => {
-        const {
-          range,
-          dependencies,
-          dispatchMock,
-          getStateMock,
-          updateTimeRangeMock,
-          templateVariableValueUpdatedMock,
-          startRefreshMock,
-          emitMock,
-        } = getOnTimeRangeUpdatedContext({ update: true });
-
-        await onTimeRangeUpdated(range, dependencies)(dispatchMock, getStateMock, undefined);
-
-        expect(dispatchMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
-        expect(getStateMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(4);
-        expect(updateTimeRangeMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-        expect(updateTimeRangeMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(range);
-        expect(templateVariableValueUpdatedMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-        expect(startRefreshMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-        expect(emitMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
-      });
-    });
-
-    describe('and options are not changed by update', () => {
-      it('then correct dependencies are called', async () => {
-        const {
-          range,
-          dependencies,
-          dispatchMock,
-          getStateMock,
-          updateTimeRangeMock,
-          templateVariableValueUpdatedMock,
-          startRefreshMock,
-          emitMock,
-        } = getOnTimeRangeUpdatedContext({ update: false });
-
-        await onTimeRangeUpdated(range, dependencies)(dispatchMock, getStateMock, undefined);
-
-        expect(dispatchMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
-        expect(getStateMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(3);
-        expect(updateTimeRangeMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-        expect(updateTimeRangeMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(range);
-        expect(templateVariableValueUpdatedMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
-        expect(startRefreshMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-        expect(emitMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
-      });
-    });
-
-    describe('and updateOptions throws', () => {
-      it('then correct dependencies are called', async () => {
-        const {
-          range,
-          dependencies,
-          dispatchMock,
-          getStateMock,
-          updateTimeRangeMock,
-          templateVariableValueUpdatedMock,
-          startRefreshMock,
-          emitMock,
-        } = getOnTimeRangeUpdatedContext({ update: false, throw: true });
-
-        await onTimeRangeUpdated(range, dependencies)(dispatchMock, getStateMock, undefined);
-
-        expect(dispatchMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
-        expect(getStateMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-        expect(updateTimeRangeMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-        expect(updateTimeRangeMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(range);
-        expect(templateVariableValueUpdatedMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
-        expect(startRefreshMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
-        expect(emitMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-      });
-    });
-  });
-
-  describe('when changeVariableName is dispatched with the same name', () => {
-    it('then no actions are dispatched', () => {
-      const textbox = textboxBuilder()
-        .withId('textbox')
-        .withName('textbox')
-        .build();
-      const constant = constantBuilder()
-        .withId('constant')
-        .withName('constant')
-        .build();
-
-      reduxTester<{ templating: TemplatingState }>()
-        .givenRootReducer(getTemplatingRootReducer())
-        .whenActionIsDispatched(addVariable(toVariablePayload(textbox, { global: false, index: 0, model: textbox })))
-        .whenActionIsDispatched(addVariable(toVariablePayload(constant, { global: false, index: 1, model: constant })))
-        .whenActionIsDispatched(changeVariableName(toVariableIdentifier(constant), constant.name), true)
-        .thenNoActionsWhereDispatched();
-    });
-  });
-
-  describe('when changeVariableName is dispatched with an unique name', () => {
-    it('then the correct actions are dispatched', () => {
-      const textbox = textboxBuilder()
-        .withId('textbox')
-        .withName('textbox')
-        .build();
-      const constant = constantBuilder()
-        .withId('constant')
-        .withName('constant')
-        .build();
-
-      reduxTester<{ templating: TemplatingState }>()
-        .givenRootReducer(getTemplatingRootReducer())
-        .whenActionIsDispatched(addVariable(toVariablePayload(textbox, { global: false, index: 0, model: textbox })))
-        .whenActionIsDispatched(addVariable(toVariablePayload(constant, { global: false, index: 1, model: constant })))
-        .whenActionIsDispatched(changeVariableName(toVariableIdentifier(constant), 'constant1'), true)
-        .thenDispatchedActionsShouldEqual(
-          addVariable({
-            type: 'constant',
-            id: 'constant1',
-            data: {
-              global: false,
-              index: 1,
-              model: { ...constant, name: 'constant1', id: 'constant1', global: false, index: 1 },
-            },
-          }),
-          changeVariableNameSucceeded({ type: 'constant', id: 'constant1', data: { newName: 'constant1' } }),
-          setIdInEditor({ id: 'constant1' }),
-          removeVariable({ type: 'constant', id: 'constant', data: { reIndex: false } })
-        );
-    });
-  });
-
-  describe('when changeVariableName is dispatched with an unique name for a new variable', () => {
-    it('then the correct actions are dispatched', () => {
-      const textbox = textboxBuilder()
-        .withId('textbox')
-        .withName('textbox')
-        .build();
-      const constant = constantBuilder()
-        .withId(NEW_VARIABLE_ID)
-        .withName('constant')
-        .build();
-
-      reduxTester<{ templating: TemplatingState }>()
-        .givenRootReducer(getTemplatingRootReducer())
-        .whenActionIsDispatched(addVariable(toVariablePayload(textbox, { global: false, index: 0, model: textbox })))
-        .whenActionIsDispatched(addVariable(toVariablePayload(constant, { global: false, index: 1, model: constant })))
-        .whenActionIsDispatched(changeVariableName(toVariableIdentifier(constant), 'constant1'), true)
-        .thenDispatchedActionsShouldEqual(
-          changeVariableNameSucceeded({ type: 'constant', id: NEW_VARIABLE_ID, data: { newName: 'constant1' } })
-        );
-    });
-  });
-
-  describe('when changeVariableName is dispatched with __newName', () => {
-    it('then the correct actions are dispatched', () => {
-      const textbox = textboxBuilder()
-        .withId('textbox')
-        .withName('textbox')
-        .build();
-      const constant = constantBuilder()
-        .withId('constant')
-        .withName('constant')
-        .build();
-
-      reduxTester<{ templating: TemplatingState }>()
-        .givenRootReducer(getTemplatingRootReducer())
-        .whenActionIsDispatched(addVariable(toVariablePayload(textbox, { global: false, index: 0, model: textbox })))
-        .whenActionIsDispatched(addVariable(toVariablePayload(constant, { global: false, index: 1, model: constant })))
-        .whenActionIsDispatched(changeVariableName(toVariableIdentifier(constant), '__newName'), true)
-        .thenDispatchedActionsShouldEqual(
-          changeVariableNameFailed({
-            newName: '__newName',
-            errorText: "Template names cannot begin with '__', that's reserved for Grafana's global variables",
-          })
-        );
-    });
-  });
-
-  describe('when changeVariableName is dispatched with illegal characters', () => {
-    it('then the correct actions are dispatched', () => {
-      const textbox = textboxBuilder()
-        .withId('textbox')
-        .withName('textbox')
-        .build();
-      const constant = constantBuilder()
-        .withId('constant')
-        .withName('constant')
-        .build();
-
-      reduxTester<{ templating: TemplatingState }>()
-        .givenRootReducer(getTemplatingRootReducer())
-        .whenActionIsDispatched(addVariable(toVariablePayload(textbox, { global: false, index: 0, model: textbox })))
-        .whenActionIsDispatched(addVariable(toVariablePayload(constant, { global: false, index: 1, model: constant })))
-        .whenActionIsDispatched(changeVariableName(toVariableIdentifier(constant), '#constant!'), true)
-        .thenDispatchedActionsShouldEqual(
-          changeVariableNameFailed({
-            newName: '#constant!',
-            errorText: 'Only word and digit characters are allowed in variable names',
-          })
-        );
-    });
-  });
-
-  describe('when changeVariableName is dispatched with a name that is already used', () => {
-    it('then the correct actions are dispatched', () => {
-      const textbox = textboxBuilder()
-        .withId('textbox')
-        .withName('textbox')
-        .build();
-      const constant = constantBuilder()
-        .withId('constant')
-        .withName('constant')
-        .build();
-
-      reduxTester<{ templating: TemplatingState }>()
-        .givenRootReducer(getTemplatingRootReducer())
-        .whenActionIsDispatched(addVariable(toVariablePayload(textbox, { global: false, index: 0, model: textbox })))
-        .whenActionIsDispatched(addVariable(toVariablePayload(constant, { global: false, index: 1, model: constant })))
-        .whenActionIsDispatched(changeVariableName(toVariableIdentifier(constant), 'textbox'), true)
-        .thenDispatchedActionsShouldEqual(
-          changeVariableNameFailed({
-            newName: 'textbox',
-            errorText: 'Variable with the same name already exists',
-          })
-        );
-    });
-  });
 });
diff --git a/public/app/features/variables/state/actions.ts b/public/app/features/variables/state/actions.ts
index 2dfb3b26c13..21e3b2033cd 100644
--- a/public/app/features/variables/state/actions.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/variables/state/actions.ts
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ export const initDashboardTemplating = (list: VariableModel[]): ThunkResult<void
     let orderIndex = 0;
     for (let index = 0; index < list.length; index++) {
       const model = list[index];
-      if (!variableAdapters.contains(model.type)) {
+      if (!variableAdapters.getIfExists(model.type)) {
         continue;
       }
 
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ export const processVariableDependencies = async (variable: VariableModel, state
       continue;
     }
 
-    if (variableAdapters.contains(variable.type)) {
+    if (variableAdapters.getIfExists(variable.type)) {
       if (variableAdapters.get(variable.type).dependsOn(variable, otherVariable)) {
         dependencies.push(otherVariable.initLock!.promise);
       }
diff --git a/public/app/features/variables/state/onTimeRangeUpdated.test.ts b/public/app/features/variables/state/onTimeRangeUpdated.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..3cd5c16e41e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/public/app/features/variables/state/onTimeRangeUpdated.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,166 @@
+import { dateTime, TimeRange } from '@grafana/data';
+import { TemplateSrv } from '../../templating/template_srv';
+import { Emitter } from '../../../core/utils/emitter';
+import { onTimeRangeUpdated, OnTimeRangeUpdatedDependencies } from './actions';
+import { DashboardModel } from '../../dashboard/state';
+import { DashboardState } from '../../../types';
+import { createIntervalVariableAdapter } from '../interval/adapter';
+import { variableAdapters } from '../adapters';
+import { createConstantVariableAdapter } from '../constant/adapter';
+import { VariableRefresh } from '../../templating/variable';
+import { constantBuilder, intervalBuilder } from '../shared/testing/builders';
+
+variableAdapters.setInit(() => [createIntervalVariableAdapter(), createConstantVariableAdapter()]);
+
+const getOnTimeRangeUpdatedContext = (args: { update?: boolean; throw?: boolean }) => {
+  const range: TimeRange = {
+    from: dateTime(new Date().getTime()).subtract(1, 'minutes'),
+    to: dateTime(new Date().getTime()),
+    raw: {
+      from: 'now-1m',
+      to: 'now',
+    },
+  };
+  const updateTimeRangeMock = jest.fn();
+  const templateSrvMock = ({ updateTimeRange: updateTimeRangeMock } as unknown) as TemplateSrv;
+  const emitMock = jest.fn();
+  const appEventsMock = ({ emit: emitMock } as unknown) as Emitter;
+  const dependencies: OnTimeRangeUpdatedDependencies = { templateSrv: templateSrvMock, appEvents: appEventsMock };
+  const templateVariableValueUpdatedMock = jest.fn();
+  const dashboard = ({
+    getModel: () =>
+      (({
+        templateVariableValueUpdated: templateVariableValueUpdatedMock,
+        startRefresh: startRefreshMock,
+      } as unknown) as DashboardModel),
+  } as unknown) as DashboardState;
+  const startRefreshMock = jest.fn();
+  const adapter = variableAdapters.get('interval');
+  adapter.updateOptions = args.throw ? jest.fn().mockRejectedValue('Something broke') : jest.fn().mockResolvedValue({});
+
+  // initial variable state
+  const initialVariable = intervalBuilder()
+    .withId('interval-0')
+    .withName('interval-0')
+    .withOptions('1m', '10m', '30m', '1h', '6h', '12h', '1d', '7d', '14d', '30d')
+    .withCurrent('1m')
+    .withRefresh(VariableRefresh.onTimeRangeChanged)
+    .build();
+
+  // the constant variable should be filtered out
+  const constant = constantBuilder()
+    .withId('constant-1')
+    .withName('constant-1')
+    .withOptions('a constant')
+    .withCurrent('a constant')
+    .build();
+  const initialState = {
+    templating: { variables: { '0': { ...initialVariable }, '1': { ...constant } } },
+    dashboard,
+  };
+
+  // updated variable state
+  const updatedVariable = intervalBuilder()
+    .withId('interval-0')
+    .withName('interval-0')
+    .withOptions('1m')
+    .withCurrent('1m')
+    .withRefresh(VariableRefresh.onTimeRangeChanged)
+    .build();
+
+  const variable = args.update ? { ...updatedVariable } : { ...initialVariable };
+  const state = { templating: { variables: { 'interval-0': variable, 'constant-1': { ...constant } } }, dashboard };
+  const getStateMock = jest
+    .fn()
+    .mockReturnValueOnce(initialState)
+    .mockReturnValue(state);
+  const dispatchMock = jest.fn();
+
+  return {
+    range,
+    dependencies,
+    dispatchMock,
+    getStateMock,
+    updateTimeRangeMock,
+    templateVariableValueUpdatedMock,
+    startRefreshMock,
+    emitMock,
+  };
+};
+
+describe('when onTimeRangeUpdated is dispatched', () => {
+  describe('and options are changed by update', () => {
+    it('then correct dependencies are called', async () => {
+      const {
+        range,
+        dependencies,
+        dispatchMock,
+        getStateMock,
+        updateTimeRangeMock,
+        templateVariableValueUpdatedMock,
+        startRefreshMock,
+        emitMock,
+      } = getOnTimeRangeUpdatedContext({ update: true });
+
+      await onTimeRangeUpdated(range, dependencies)(dispatchMock, getStateMock, undefined);
+
+      expect(dispatchMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
+      expect(getStateMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(4);
+      expect(updateTimeRangeMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+      expect(updateTimeRangeMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(range);
+      expect(templateVariableValueUpdatedMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+      expect(startRefreshMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+      expect(emitMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('and options are not changed by update', () => {
+    it('then correct dependencies are called', async () => {
+      const {
+        range,
+        dependencies,
+        dispatchMock,
+        getStateMock,
+        updateTimeRangeMock,
+        templateVariableValueUpdatedMock,
+        startRefreshMock,
+        emitMock,
+      } = getOnTimeRangeUpdatedContext({ update: false });
+
+      await onTimeRangeUpdated(range, dependencies)(dispatchMock, getStateMock, undefined);
+
+      expect(dispatchMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
+      expect(getStateMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(3);
+      expect(updateTimeRangeMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+      expect(updateTimeRangeMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(range);
+      expect(templateVariableValueUpdatedMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
+      expect(startRefreshMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+      expect(emitMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('and updateOptions throws', () => {
+    it('then correct dependencies are called', async () => {
+      const {
+        range,
+        dependencies,
+        dispatchMock,
+        getStateMock,
+        updateTimeRangeMock,
+        templateVariableValueUpdatedMock,
+        startRefreshMock,
+        emitMock,
+      } = getOnTimeRangeUpdatedContext({ update: false, throw: true });
+
+      await onTimeRangeUpdated(range, dependencies)(dispatchMock, getStateMock, undefined);
+
+      expect(dispatchMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
+      expect(getStateMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+      expect(updateTimeRangeMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+      expect(updateTimeRangeMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(range);
+      expect(templateVariableValueUpdatedMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
+      expect(startRefreshMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
+      expect(emitMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/public/app/features/variables/state/processVariable.test.ts b/public/app/features/variables/state/processVariable.test.ts
index 481ad2eaf0c..1c9df4c7c63 100644
--- a/public/app/features/variables/state/processVariable.test.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/variables/state/processVariable.test.ts
@@ -62,14 +62,14 @@ jest.mock('app/features/plugins/datasource_srv', () => ({
   }),
 }));
 
+variableAdapters.setInit(() => [createCustomVariableAdapter(), createQueryVariableAdapter()]);
+
 describe('processVariable', () => {
   // these following processVariable tests will test the following base setup
   // custom doesn't depend on any other variable
   // queryDependsOnCustom depends on custom
   // queryNoDepends doesn't depend on any other variable
   const getAndSetupProcessVariableContext = () => {
-    variableAdapters.set('custom', createCustomVariableAdapter());
-    variableAdapters.set('query', createQueryVariableAdapter());
     const custom = customBuilder()
       .withId('custom')
       .withName('custom')
diff --git a/public/app/features/variables/state/reducers.test.ts b/public/app/features/variables/state/reducers.test.ts
index 593e3137912..37a185704f3 100644
--- a/public/app/features/variables/state/reducers.test.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/variables/state/reducers.test.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,29 @@
 import { reducerTester } from '../../../../test/core/redux/reducerTester';
 import { cleanUpDashboard } from 'app/features/dashboard/state/reducers';
-import { VariableHide, VariableModel } from '../../templating/variable';
+import { QueryVariableModel, VariableHide, VariableType } from '../../templating/variable';
 import { VariableAdapter, variableAdapters } from '../adapters';
 import { createAction } from '@reduxjs/toolkit';
 import { variablesReducer, VariablesState } from './variablesReducer';
 import { toVariablePayload, VariablePayload } from './types';
 
+const variableAdapter: VariableAdapter<QueryVariableModel> = {
+  id: ('mock' as unknown) as VariableType,
+  name: 'Mock label',
+  description: 'Mock description',
+  dependsOn: jest.fn(),
+  updateOptions: jest.fn(),
+  initialState: {} as QueryVariableModel,
+  reducer: jest.fn().mockReturnValue({}),
+  getValueForUrl: jest.fn(),
+  getSaveModel: jest.fn(),
+  picker: null as any,
+  editor: null as any,
+  setValue: jest.fn(),
+  setValueFromUrl: jest.fn(),
+};
+
+variableAdapters.setInit(() => [{ ...variableAdapter }]);
+
 describe('variablesReducer', () => {
   describe('when cleanUpDashboard is dispatched', () => {
     it('then all variables except global variables should be removed', () => {
@@ -91,30 +109,16 @@ describe('variablesReducer', () => {
           skipUrlSync: false,
         },
       };
-      const variableAdapter: VariableAdapter<VariableModel> = {
-        label: 'Mock label',
-        description: 'Mock description',
-        dependsOn: jest.fn(),
-        updateOptions: jest.fn(),
-        initialState: {} as VariableModel,
-        reducer: jest.fn().mockReturnValue(initialState),
-        getValueForUrl: jest.fn(),
-        getSaveModel: jest.fn(),
-        picker: null as any,
-        editor: null as any,
-        setValue: jest.fn(),
-        setValueFromUrl: jest.fn(),
-      };
-      variableAdapters.set('query', variableAdapter);
+      variableAdapters.get('mock').reducer = jest.fn().mockReturnValue(initialState);
       const mockAction = createAction<VariablePayload>('mockAction');
       reducerTester<VariablesState>()
         .givenReducer(variablesReducer, initialState)
-        .whenActionIsDispatched(mockAction(toVariablePayload({ type: 'query', id: '0' })))
+        .whenActionIsDispatched(mockAction(toVariablePayload({ type: ('mock' as unknown) as VariableType, id: '0' })))
         .thenStateShouldEqual(initialState);
-      expect(variableAdapter.reducer).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-      expect(variableAdapter.reducer).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect(variableAdapters.get('mock').reducer).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+      expect(variableAdapters.get('mock').reducer).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
         initialState,
-        mockAction(toVariablePayload({ type: 'query', id: '0' }))
+        mockAction(toVariablePayload({ type: ('mock' as unknown) as VariableType, id: '0' }))
       );
     });
   });
@@ -132,27 +136,13 @@ describe('variablesReducer', () => {
           skipUrlSync: false,
         },
       };
-      const variableAdapter: VariableAdapter<VariableModel> = {
-        label: 'Mock label',
-        description: 'Mock description',
-        dependsOn: jest.fn(),
-        updateOptions: jest.fn(),
-        initialState: {} as VariableModel,
-        reducer: jest.fn().mockReturnValue(initialState),
-        getValueForUrl: jest.fn(),
-        getSaveModel: jest.fn(),
-        picker: null as any,
-        editor: null as any,
-        setValue: jest.fn(),
-        setValueFromUrl: jest.fn(),
-      };
-      variableAdapters.set('query', variableAdapter);
+      variableAdapters.get('mock').reducer = jest.fn().mockReturnValue(initialState);
       const mockAction = createAction<VariablePayload>('mockAction');
       reducerTester<VariablesState>()
         .givenReducer(variablesReducer, initialState)
         .whenActionIsDispatched(mockAction(toVariablePayload({ type: 'adhoc', id: '0' })))
         .thenStateShouldEqual(initialState);
-      expect(variableAdapter.reducer).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
+      expect(variableAdapters.get('mock').reducer).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
     });
   });
 
@@ -169,27 +159,13 @@ describe('variablesReducer', () => {
           skipUrlSync: false,
         },
       };
-      const variableAdapter: VariableAdapter<VariableModel> = {
-        label: 'Mock label',
-        description: 'Mock description',
-        dependsOn: jest.fn(),
-        updateOptions: jest.fn(),
-        initialState: {} as VariableModel,
-        reducer: jest.fn().mockReturnValue(initialState),
-        getValueForUrl: jest.fn(),
-        getSaveModel: jest.fn(),
-        picker: null as any,
-        editor: null as any,
-        setValue: jest.fn(),
-        setValueFromUrl: jest.fn(),
-      };
-      variableAdapters.set('query', variableAdapter);
+      variableAdapters.get('mock').reducer = jest.fn().mockReturnValue(initialState);
       const mockAction = createAction<string>('mockAction');
       reducerTester<VariablesState>()
         .givenReducer(variablesReducer, initialState)
         .whenActionIsDispatched(mockAction('mocked'))
         .thenStateShouldEqual(initialState);
-      expect(variableAdapter.reducer).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
+      expect(variableAdapters.get('mock').reducer).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
     });
   });
 });
diff --git a/public/app/features/variables/state/sharedReducer.test.ts b/public/app/features/variables/state/sharedReducer.test.ts
index dc85a898331..f23b03bba78 100644
--- a/public/app/features/variables/state/sharedReducer.test.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/variables/state/sharedReducer.test.ts
@@ -24,12 +24,13 @@ import { getVariableState, getVariableTestContext } from './helpers';
 import { initialVariablesState, VariablesState } from './variablesReducer';
 import { changeVariableNameSucceeded } from '../editor/reducer';
 
+variableAdapters.setInit(() => [createQueryVariableAdapter()]);
+
 describe('sharedReducer', () => {
   describe('when addVariable is dispatched', () => {
     it('then state should be correct', () => {
       const model = ({ name: 'name from model', type: 'type from model' } as unknown) as QueryVariableModel;
       const payload = toVariablePayload({ id: '0', type: 'query' }, { global: true, index: 0, model });
-      variableAdapters.set('query', createQueryVariableAdapter());
       reducerTester<VariablesState>()
         .givenReducer(sharedReducer, { ...initialVariablesState })
         .whenActionIsDispatched(addVariable(payload))
@@ -107,7 +108,6 @@ describe('sharedReducer', () => {
 
   describe('when duplicateVariable is dispatched', () => {
     it('then state should be correct', () => {
-      variableAdapters.set('query', createQueryVariableAdapter());
       const initialState: VariablesState = getVariableState(3);
       const payload = toVariablePayload({ id: '1', type: 'query' }, { newId: '11' });
       reducerTester<VariablesState>()
@@ -193,7 +193,6 @@ describe('sharedReducer', () => {
 
   describe('when storeNewVariable is dispatched', () => {
     it('then state should be correct', () => {
-      variableAdapters.set('query', createQueryVariableAdapter());
       const initialState: VariablesState = getVariableState(3, -1, true);
       const payload = toVariablePayload({ id: '11', type: 'query' });
       reducerTester<VariablesState>()
diff --git a/public/app/features/variables/state/variablesReducer.ts b/public/app/features/variables/state/variablesReducer.ts
index a2a6eead163..10fcaf23cad 100644
--- a/public/app/features/variables/state/variablesReducer.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/variables/state/variablesReducer.ts
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export const variablesReducer = (
     return variables;
   }
 
-  if (action?.payload?.type && variableAdapters.contains(action?.payload?.type)) {
+  if (action?.payload?.type && variableAdapters.getIfExists(action?.payload?.type)) {
     // Now that we know we are dealing with a payload that is addressed for an adapted variable let's reduce state:
     // Firstly call the sharedTemplatingReducer that handles all shared actions between variable types
     // Secondly call the specific variable type's reducer
diff --git a/public/app/features/variables/textbox/actions.test.ts b/public/app/features/variables/textbox/actions.test.ts
index e7465953195..a0995860cf5 100644
--- a/public/app/features/variables/textbox/actions.test.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/variables/textbox/actions.test.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import { setCurrentVariableValue } from '../state/sharedReducer';
 import { initDashboardTemplating } from '../state/actions';
 
 describe('textbox actions', () => {
-  variableAdapters.set('textbox', createTextBoxVariableAdapter());
+  variableAdapters.setInit(() => [createTextBoxVariableAdapter()]);
 
   describe('when updateTextBoxVariableOptions is dispatched', () => {
     it('then correct actions are dispatched', async () => {
diff --git a/public/app/features/variables/textbox/adapter.ts b/public/app/features/variables/textbox/adapter.ts
index 66d2f998b9c..c7ffc6ffcf3 100644
--- a/public/app/features/variables/textbox/adapter.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/variables/textbox/adapter.ts
@@ -12,8 +12,9 @@ import { toVariableIdentifier } from '../state/types';
 
 export const createTextBoxVariableAdapter = (): VariableAdapter<TextBoxVariableModel> => {
   return {
+    id: 'textbox',
     description: 'Define a textbox variable, where users can enter any arbitrary string',
-    label: 'Text box',
+    name: 'Text box',
     initialState: initialTextBoxVariableModelState,
     reducer: textBoxVariableReducer,
     picker: TextBoxVariablePicker,