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Grouping commands in a subshell

Synopsis

( <LIST> )

Description

The list <LIST> is executed in a separate shell - a subprocess. No changes to the environment (variables etc...) are reflected in the "main shell".

Examples

Execute a command in a different directory.

echo "$PWD"
( cd /usr; echo "$PWD" )
echo "$PWD" # Still in the original directory.

Portability considerations

  • The subshell compound command is specified by POSIX.
  • Avoid ambiguous syntax.
(((1+1))) # Equivalent to: (( (1+1) ))

See also