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How to Use `export` in a Terminal (Bash)

In Bash, export marks a variable for inclusion in the environment of later commands. Learn how to set, inspect, and stop exporting it.
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In Bash, use export NAME=value to set a variable and make it available in the environment of subsequently executed commands. For example, export API_TOKEN='example-value' makes that value available to child commands launched from the current shell while the export attribute remains set. Avoid putting a real secret in a command if your shell history or other logging could expose it.

What does export do?

A terminal emulator displays a command-line interface; the shell running inside it interprets commands. The examples here describe Bash. Bash’s Reference Manual defines export as: “Mark each name to be passed to subsequently executed commands in the environment.” GNU Bash Reference Manual: Bourne Shell Builtins.

When Bash runs a command, it can pass that command an environment containing exported variable names and their values. A child program can read those entries. Export affects commands launched from that shell; it does not change the environment of the already-running parent process, other unrelated processes, or future shell sessions.

How do you set and export a variable?

You can assign a value and export the name in one command:

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export EDITOR='vim'

Or assign it first and export it separately:

EDITOR='vim'
export EDITOR

In both cases, Bash makes the variable available to subsequently executed commands. Bash also receives environment entries when it starts and automatically marks those names for export; if their values change, the updated values are passed to executed commands.

How is a one-command assignment different?

Prefix an assignment to a command when the value should be supplied only for that command’s execution:

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EDITOR='vim' some-command

This does not mark EDITOR for export by the current shell for later commands. By contrast, export EDITOR='vim' leaves the export attribute set in the current shell, so later commands launched from it receive the value.

Pattern Effect Scope
export NAME=value Assigns the value and marks the name for export. Subsequently executed commands from this shell while the export attribute remains set.
NAME=value command Supplies the assignment in the command’s environment. That command’s execution.

How do you inspect or stop exporting a variable in Bash?

In Bash, use export -p to print exported names in reusable form. Running export without a name also displays exported names.

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export -p

To remove the export attribute but keep the shell variable itself, use export -n:

export -n EDITOR

export -n EDITOR is not the same as unset EDITOR: the former stops Bash from exporting the variable, while the latter removes the variable from the shell.

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Which shell’s syntax applies?

export is a shell builtin, not a command that changes the terminal emulator. The syntax and options described here are Bash-specific. Bash documents the form export [-fn] [-p] [name[=value]]: -n removes the export attribute, -p prints exported names, and -f addresses shell functions. Do not assume these options behave identically in every shell. Bash also documents export as a POSIX special builtin; behavior can depend on whether Bash is operating in POSIX mode. See the Bash Reference Manual.

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