diff --git a/httprunner/api.py b/httprunner/api.py
index e5e5e97d..8bd47703 100644
--- a/httprunner/api.py
+++ b/httprunner/api.py
@@ -20,18 +20,6 @@ class HttpRunner(object):
             failfast (bool): False/True, stop the test run on the first error or failure.
             http_client_session (instance): requests.Session(), or locust.client.Session() instance.
 
-        Attributes:
-            project_mapping (dict): save project loaded api/testcases, environments and debugtalk.py module.
-                {
-                    "debugtalk": {
-                        "variables": {},
-                        "functions": {}
-                    },
-                    "env": {},
-                    "def-api": {},
-                    "def-testcase": {}
-                }
-
         """
         self.exception_stage = "initialize HttpRunner()"
         self.http_client_session = kwargs.pop("http_client_session", None)
@@ -47,7 +35,7 @@ class HttpRunner(object):
             testcases (list): parsed testcases list
 
         Returns:
-            tuple: unittest.TestSuite()
+            unittest.TestSuite()
 
         """
         def _add_teststep(test_runner, config, teststep_dict):
@@ -165,10 +153,7 @@ class HttpRunner(object):
                             "variables": [],        # optional
                             "request": {}           # optional
                             "refs": {
-                                "debugtalk": {
-                                    "variables": {},
-                                    "functions": {}
-                                },
+                                "functions": {},
                                 "env": {},
                                 "def-api": {},
                                 "def-testcase": {}
diff --git a/httprunner/parser.py b/httprunner/parser.py
index dd3b1b99..d1ab3312 100644
--- a/httprunner/parser.py
+++ b/httprunner/parser.py
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ def substitute_variables(content, variables_mapping):
 
     return content
 
-def parse_parameters(parameters, variables_mapping, functions_mapping):
+def parse_parameters(parameters, variables_mapping=None, functions_mapping=None):
     """ parse parameters and generate cartesian product.
 
     Args:
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ def parse_parameters(parameters, variables_mapping, functions_mapping):
                 (2) call built-in parameterize function, "${parameterize(account.csv)}"
                 (3) call custom function in debugtalk.py, "${gen_app_version()}"
 
-        variables_mapping (dict): variables mapping loaded from debugtalk.py
+        variables_mapping (dict): variables mapping loaded from testcase config
         functions_mapping (dict): functions mapping loaded from debugtalk.py
 
     Returns:
@@ -280,7 +280,10 @@ def parse_parameters(parameters, variables_mapping, functions_mapping):
         >>> parse_parameters(parameters)
 
     """
+    variables_mapping = variables_mapping or {}
+    functions_mapping = functions_mapping or {}
     parsed_parameters_list = []
+
     for parameter in parameters:
         parameter_name, parameter_content = list(parameter.items())[0]
         parameter_name_list = parameter_name.split("-")
@@ -542,7 +545,7 @@ def parse_tests(testcases, variables_mapping=None):
                     "config": {
                         "name": "desc1",
                         "path": "testcase1_path",
-                        "variables": [],         # optional
+                        "variables": {},         # optional
                         "request": {}            # optional
                         "refs": {
                             "debugtalk": {
@@ -598,7 +601,7 @@ def parse_tests(testcases, variables_mapping=None):
         config_parameters = testcase_config.pop("parameters", [])
         cartesian_product_parameters_list = parse_parameters(
             config_parameters,
-            {},
+            testcase_config.get("variables", {}),
             project_mapping["functions"]
         ) or [{}]
 
diff --git a/tests/test_parser.py b/tests/test_parser.py
index 7b1eeccb..9dd7a6fd 100644
--- a/tests/test_parser.py
+++ b/tests/test_parser.py
@@ -364,8 +364,7 @@ class TestParser(unittest.TestCase):
         ]
         variables_mapping = {}
         functions_mapping = {}
-        cartesian_product_parameters = parser.parse_parameters(
-            parameters, variables_mapping, functions_mapping)
+        cartesian_product_parameters = parser.parse_parameters(parameters)
         self.assertEqual(
             len(cartesian_product_parameters),
             3 * 2
@@ -389,11 +388,9 @@ class TestParser(unittest.TestCase):
         )
         loader.load_dot_env_file(dot_env_path)
         from tests import debugtalk
-        functions = loader.load_module_functions(debugtalk)
         cartesian_product_parameters = parser.parse_parameters(
             parameters,
-            {},
-            functions
+            functions_mapping=loader.load_module_functions(debugtalk)
         )
         self.assertEqual(
             len(cartesian_product_parameters),
@@ -405,11 +402,7 @@ class TestParser(unittest.TestCase):
             {"app_version": "${parameterize(tests/data/app_version.csv)}"},
             {"username-password": "${parameterize(tests/data/account.csv)}"}
         ]
-        variables_mapping = {}
-        functions_mapping = {}
-
-        cartesian_product_parameters = parser.parse_parameters(
-            parameters, variables_mapping, functions_mapping)
+        cartesian_product_parameters = parser.parse_parameters(parameters)
         self.assertEqual(
             len(cartesian_product_parameters),
             2 * 3
@@ -424,13 +417,12 @@ class TestParser(unittest.TestCase):
             {"username-password": "${parameterize(tests/data/account.csv)}"}
         ]
         variables_mapping = {}
-        functions_mapping = project_mapping["functions"]
         testcase_path = os.path.join(
             os.getcwd(),
             "tests/data/demo_parameters.yml"
         )
         cartesian_product_parameters = parser.parse_parameters(
-            parameters, variables_mapping, functions_mapping)
+            parameters, functions_mapping=project_mapping["functions"])
         self.assertEqual(
             len(cartesian_product_parameters),
             3 * 2 * 3