The Open Group Base Specifications Issue 6
IEEE Std 1003.1, 2004 Edition
Copyright © 2001-2004 The IEEE and The Open Group, All Rights reserved.

#### NAME

> export - set the export attribute for variables

#### SYNOPSIS

> ``export name`[`=`word]`...
> export -p
> ``

#### DESCRIPTION

> The shell shall give the export attribute to the variables corresponding to the specified names, which shall cause them to be in the environment of subsequently executed commands. If the name of a variable is followed by = word, then the value of that variable shall be set to word.

> The export special built-in shall support the Base Definitions volume of IEEE Std 1003.1-2001, Section 12.2, Utility Syntax Guidelines.

> When -p is specified, export shall write to the standard output the names and values of all exported variables, in the following format:

>     "export %s=%s\n", <name>, <value>

> if name is set, and:

>     "export %s\n", <name>

> if name is unset.

> The shell shall format the output, including the proper use of quoting, so that it is suitable for reinput to the shell as commands that achieve the same exporting results, except:

> 1. Read-only variables with values cannot be reset.

> 2. Variables that were unset at the time they were output need not be reset to the unset state if a value is assigned to the variable between the time the state was saved and the time at which the saved output is reinput to the shell.

> When no arguments are given, the results are unspecified.

#### OPTIONS

> See the DESCRIPTION.

#### OPERANDS

> See the DESCRIPTION.

#### STDIN

> Not used.

#### INPUT FILES

> None.

#### ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES

> None.

#### ASYNCHRONOUS EVENTS

> Default.

#### STDOUT

> See the DESCRIPTION.

#### STDERR

> The standard error shall be used only for diagnostic messages.

#### OUTPUT FILES

> None.

#### EXTENDED DESCRIPTION

> None.

#### EXIT STATUS

> Zero.

#### CONSEQUENCES OF ERRORS

> Default.

The following sections are informative.

#### APPLICATION USAGE

> None.

#### EXAMPLES

> Export PWD and HOME variables:

>     export PWD HOME

> Set and export the PATH variable:

>     export PATH=/local/bin:$PATH

> Save and restore all exported variables:

>     export -p > temp-fileunset a lot of variables... processing. temp-file

#### RATIONALE

> Some historical shells use the no-argument case as the functional equivalent of what is required here with -p. This feature was left unspecified because it is not historical practice in all shells, and some scripts may rely on the now-unspecified results on their implementations. Attempts to specify the -p output as the default case were unsuccessful in achieving consensus. The -p option was added to allow portable access to the values that can be saved and then later restored using; for example, a dot script.

#### FUTURE DIRECTIONS

> None.

#### SEE ALSO

> Special Built-In Utilities

#### CHANGE HISTORY

#### Issue 6

> IEEE PASC Interpretation 1003.2 #203 is applied, clarifying the format when a variable is unset.

> IEEE Std 1003.1-2001/Cor 1-2002, item XCU/TC1/D6/5 is applied so that the reference page sections use terms as described in the Utility Description Defaults ( Utility Description Defaults ). No change in behavior is intended.

> IEEE Std 1003.1-2001/Cor 1-2002, item XCU/TC1/D6/6 is applied, adding the following text to the end of the first paragraph of the DESCRIPTION: ``If the name of a variable is followed by = word, then the value of that variable shall be set to word.''. The reason for this change is that the SYNOPSIS for export includes:

>     export name[=word]...

> but the meaning of the optional ``= word'' is never explained in the text.

End of informative text.

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