# The export builtin command

## Synopsis

    export [-fn] [NAME[=VALUE] ...]
    export -p

## Description

The `export` builtin command is used to mark variables or functions
referenced by `NAME` for automatic export to the environment. If `NAME`
is a shell variable, a value `VALUE` can be assigned before exporting
it.

### Options

  Option   Description
  -------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  `-f`     refer to shell functions
  `-n`     remove the export property from any referenced `NAME`
  `-p`     print all exported variables, with `-f`, print all exported functions - all in a format re-usable as input

An argument of `--` disables further option processing.

### Return status

  Status   Reason
  -------- ---------------------------
  0        no error
  !=0      invalid option
  !=0      a given `NAME` is invalid

## Examples

Set the display to use when launching a GUI application (useful during
SSH sessions):

    export DISPLAY=":0"

Set your default text editor (e.g. SublimeText):

    export EDITOR=subl

## Portability considerations

-   in POSIX(r), only the `-p` option is specified
-   in POSIX(r), only variables (with value assignment) are to be
    exported, not shell functions

## See also

-   [declare](/commands/builtin/declare)