unset

unset [-f] [-v] name ...

unset is a shell builtin that removes variables and function definitions from the current shell environment. By default it removes variables, but with the -f flag it removes function definitions instead.Unsetting a variable removes it completely from the environment, unlike setting it to an empty string which leaves the variable defined but empty. This distinction matters for scripts that check whether a variable exists versus whether it has a value. Unsetting exported variables also removes them from the environment inherited by child processes.Changes made by unset only affect the current shell session. Variables and functions defined in shell startup files like ~/.bashrc will be restored when a new shell session starts. Read-only variables cannot be unset.

-f

Unset function.

Unset variable (default).

Unset the nameref variable itself rather than the variable it references.

Name(s) to unset.

Shell builtin (POSIX). Cannot unset readonly variables (returns error). Changes only affect the current shell session. The -n option is a bash extension, not available in all POSIX shells.

unset is a standard shell builtin command for removing variables and functions from the shell environment.

export(1), set(1), env(1)