diff --git a/docs/docs/20-usage/50-environment.md b/docs/docs/20-usage/50-environment.md
index 9f6bd75e7..3f2794cb4 100644
--- a/docs/docs/20-usage/50-environment.md
+++ b/docs/docs/20-usage/50-environment.md
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ This is the reference list of all environment variables available to your pipeli
 | `CI_WORKFLOW_NAME`               | workflow name                                                                                                      | `release`                                                                                  |
 |                                  | **Current step**                                                                                                   |                                                                                            |
 | `CI_STEP_NAME`                   | step name                                                                                                          | `build package`                                                                            |
+| `CI_STEP_TYPE`                   | step type (`commands`, `plugin`, `service`, `clone` or `cache`)                                                    | `commands`                                                                                 |
 | `CI_STEP_NUMBER`                 | step number                                                                                                        | `0`                                                                                        |
 | `CI_STEP_STARTED`                | step started UNIX timestamp                                                                                        | `1722617519`                                                                               |
 | `CI_STEP_URL`                    | URL to step in UI                                                                                                  | `https://ci.example.com/repos/7/pipeline/8`                                                |
diff --git a/pipeline/frontend/metadata/environment.go b/pipeline/frontend/metadata/environment.go
index 25ac55d31..fdf6b43bd 100644
--- a/pipeline/frontend/metadata/environment.go
+++ b/pipeline/frontend/metadata/environment.go
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ func (m *Metadata) Environ() map[string]string {
 		"CI_WORKFLOW_NUMBER": strconv.Itoa(m.Workflow.Number),
 
 		"CI_STEP_NAME":    m.Step.Name,
+		"CI_STEP_TYPE":    m.Step.Type,
 		"CI_STEP_NUMBER":  strconv.Itoa(m.Step.Number),
 		"CI_STEP_STARTED": "", // will be set by agent
 		"CI_STEP_URL":     m.getPipelineWebURL(m.Curr, m.Step.Number),
diff --git a/pipeline/frontend/metadata/types.go b/pipeline/frontend/metadata/types.go
index 5fa56e85e..3ecfcb96b 100644
--- a/pipeline/frontend/metadata/types.go
+++ b/pipeline/frontend/metadata/types.go
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ type (
 	// Step defines runtime metadata for a step.
 	Step struct {
 		Name   string `json:"name,omitempty"`
+		Type   string `json:"type,omitempty"`
 		Number int    `json:"number,omitempty"`
 	}