Linux 'set' Command for Bash Environment Variables

Prompt Bash to behave in certain ways by setting local variables with 'set'

linux set command screenshot
by Juergen Haas
A software developer, data scientist, and a fan of the Linux operating system.
Updated November 05, 2019

The set command in Linux activates or clears specific flags or settings within the Bash shell environment.

Other shells use different methods of setting local variables.

Example Using the Set Command

For example, executing

set -C

configures Bash to not overwrite an existing file when output redirection using >, >&, and <> is redirected to a file. By default, Bash allows redirected output to overwrite existing files.

use of linux set command

For more extensive advice about configuring built-in variables for Bash, review the Bash manual's instructions about set.