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Shell Variables

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14 views

Shell Variables

Uploaded by

Himani Verma
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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https://www.tutorialspoint.com/execute_ksh_online.

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Variable Names
The name of a variable can contain only letters (a to z or A to Z), numbers ( 0 to 9)
or the underscore character ( _).
By convention, Unix shell variables will have their names in UPPERCASE.
The following examples are valid variable names −
_ALI
TOKEN_A
VAR_1
VAR_2
Following are the examples of invalid variable names −
2_VAR
-VARIABLE
VAR1-VAR2
VAR_A!

Example-

course="Unix Programming "

echo $course

Read-only Variables
Shell provides a way to mark variables as read-only by using the read-only
command. After a variable is marked read-only, its value cannot be changed.
For example, the following script generates an error while trying to change the value
of NAME −
NAME="Zara Ali"

readonly NAME

NAME="Qadiri"

Unsetting Variables
Unsetting or deleting a variable directs the shell to remove the variable from the list
of variables that it tracks. Once you unset a variable, you cannot access the stored
value in the variable.
Following is the syntax to unset a defined variable using the unset command −
unset variable_name

The above command unsets the value of a defined variable. Here is a simple
example that demonstrates how the command works −
#!/bin/sh

NAME="Zara Ali"
unset NAME
echo $NAME

The above example does not print anything. You cannot use the unset command
to unset variables that are marked readonly.

Variable Types
When a shell is running, three main types of variables are present −
 Local Variables − A local variable is a variable that is present within the
current instance of the shell. It is not available to programs that are started by
the shell. They are set at the command prompt.
 Environment Variables − An environment variable is available to any child
process of the shell. Some programs need environment variables in order to
function correctly. Usually, a shell script defines only those environment
variables that are needed by the programs that it runs.
 Shell Variables − A shell variable is a special variable that is set by the shell
and is required by the shell in order to function correctly. Some of these
variables are environment variables whereas others are local variables.

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