BASH - Functions - Local vs Global Functions

Functions can be global, i.e. apply by default to every user on the system.

However each user can also have their own functions which only apply to them, i.e. local functions.

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Global functions are specified in a file within the /etc/profile.d/ directory. The name of the file is irrelevant.

We use /etc/profile.d/bash_functions.sh.

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Local functions are specific to the user.

There is no specific file set aside to hold local functions, but it is recommended to define functions should in a file named .bash_functions within a users home directory.

• ~/.bash_functions

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Have your .bashrc load it, by adding the following to the ./bashrc file:

~/.bashrc

if [ -f ~/.bash_functions ]; then
    . ~/.bash_functions
fi

or

~/.bashrc

if [ -e $HOME/.bash_functions ]; then
    source $HOME/.bash_functions
fi

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To apply the changes immediately to your bash profile without having to log out:

source ~/.bashrc

or

~/.bash_functions

or

. ~/.bashrc

or

. ~/.bash_profile