source

Additional Notes

source is a shell command used to run shell commands from a file in the current shell. It reads and executes commands from a file in the current shell environment, not in a subshell.

source is a Bash builtin; its POSIX equivalent is . (dot). Use it to reload configuration files like ~/.bashrc or to import script libraries.

Syntax

source [arguments]

Parameters

• options: Flags that change how source behaves.
• arguments: Values consumed by the shell builtin or script command.
• command: Command line to run, test, wrap, or control.

Common Options

• --help: Show command help when supported.
• --version: Show version information when supported.

Examples

source --help
man source

Practical Notes

Options can vary by distribution and package version. Use man source, source --help, or the package documentation for exact syntax.