Table of Contents
List of shell options
incomplete
This information was taken from a Bash version ”3.1.17(1)-release”, every now and then new options are added, so likely, this list isn't complete.
If the description is longer than a few lines, then there's an extended description below the table.
The default for all options is - unless otherwise mentioned - off. The shell-options can be set with the shopt builtin command.
cdable_vars | Treat every non-directory argument to the cd-command as variable name containing a directory to cd into |
cdspell | If set, minor errors in the spelling of a directory component in a cd command will be corrected. The errors checked for are transposed characters, a missing character, and one character too many. If a correction is found, the corrected file name is printed, and the command proceeds. This option is only used by interactive shells. |
checkhash | If set, bash checks that a command found in the hash table exists before trying to execute it. If a hashed command no longer exists, a normal path search is performed. |
checkwinsize | If set, bash checks the window size after each command and, if necessary, updates the values of the variables LINES and COLUMNS |
cmdhist | If set, bash attempts to save all lines of a multiple-line command in the same history entry. This allows easy re-editing of multi-line commands. |
dotglob | If set, Bash includes filenames beginning with a . (dot) in the results of pathname expansion |
execfail | If set, a non-interactive shell will not exit if it cannot execute the file specified as an argument to the exec-builtin command. An interactive shell does not exit if exec fails. |
expand_aliases | If set, aliases are expanded. This option is enabled by default for interactive shells. |
extdebug | If set, behavior intended for use by debuggers is enabled. See extended extdebug description |
extglob | If set, the extended pattern matching features are enabled. |
extquote | If set, $'string' and $”string” quoting is performed within parameter expansions enclosed in double quotes. This option is enabled by default. |
failglob | If set, patterns which fail to match filenames during pathname expansion result in an error message |
force_fignore | If set, the suffixes specified by the FIGNORE shell variable cause words to be ignored when performing word completion even if the ignored words are the only possible completions. This option is enabled by default. |
gnu_errfmt | If set, shell error messages are written in the standard GNU error message format |
histappend | If set, the history list is appended to the file named by the value of the HISTFILE variable when the shell exits, rather than overwriting the file. |
histreedit | If set, and readline is being used, a user is given the opportunity to re-edit a failed history substitution. |
histverify | Allow to review a history substitution result by loading the resulting line into the editing buffer, rather than directly executing it. |
hostcomplete | If set, bash completion also completes hostnames. On by default. |
huponexit | If set, bash will send SIGHUP to all jobs when an interactive login shell exits. |
interactive_comments | Allow commenting in interactive shells, on by default. |
lithist |
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login_shell | The option is set when Bash is a login shell (set by the shell itself, don't change) |
mailwarn |
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no_empty_cmd_completion |
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nocaseglob |
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nocasematch |
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nullglob |
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progcomp |
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promptvars |
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restricted_shell |
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shift_verbose |
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sourcepath |
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xpg_echo | If set, the echo-builtin command expands backslash-escape sequences by default (POSIX, SUS, XPG) |
Extended descriptions
extdebug
See also
- Internal: shopt builtin command
- Internal: set builtin command
