# variable name with dot(.)

**URL:** <https://community.unix.com/t/variable-name-with-dot/234815>\
**Category:** UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers\
**Created:** [March 11, 2009, 5:52am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/variable-name-with-dot/234815 "2009-03-11T05:52:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![gopalss](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/gopalss/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@gopalss](https://community.unix.com/u/gopalss)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 5:52am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/variable-name-with-dot/234815/1 "2009-03-11T05:52:10Z")

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Hi,

Is it possible to declare variable with name having dot(.) in it ?

something like gs.test='HELLO'

Thanks in advance 🙂

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**Author:** ![zaxxon](https://community.unix.com/user_avatar/community.unix.com/zaxxon/32/660_2.png) [@zaxxon](https://community.unix.com/u/zaxxon)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 8:12am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/variable-name-with-dot/234815/2 "2009-03-11T08:12:41Z")

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Just try it out, you will get an error. It is better to use an underscore for example to increase readability.

Maybe there are some shells that allow them though, idk. Better keep it with underscores also for portability I think.