How to Solve Export Not a Valid Identifier Error in Bash

We can use the export command to add the variable to the environment variables list of the shell. This article will explain how to export variables correctly and solve the bash: export: `=': not a valid identifier error in Bash.

Solve bash: export: `=': Not a Valid Identifier Error in Bash

The export command exports attribute to variables corresponding to the specified names in the shell. The variable will be available in the environment of subsequently executed commands.

If the variable name is followed by =word, the variable value is set to word.

We can use the export command like below.

export variable=attribute

Make sure you do not leave any spaces between words. You will get the bash: export: `=': not a valid identifier error using the command below.

export variable = attribute

Also, review the .bashrc and .bash_profile files. If this command is used with spaces in these files, the error will occur.

For example, the PATH can be specified with the following command in these files.

export PATH = $PATH:/usr/local/bin

We can fix the error by deleting the space characters here.