Defining a variable with or without export?

Question

What is `export` for? What is the difference between: export name=value and name=value

Answer 1

When you define a variable without the 'export' keyword, the variable scope is the current shell only. If you spawn a subshell the variable in the parent shell is not exported to the subshell. When you specify the 'export' keyword the variable scope is global and the variable is available in any subshell created.