declare -n r declare -n r unset -n r r=foo declare -n r=/ r=% declare -n r unset r declare -n r r=^ declare -p r unset -n r declare -n foo declare -a foo declare -p foo foo[0]=7 declare -p foo unset foo declare -n x declare x=42 declare -p x declare -n -r RO=foo declare -p RO unset -n r; unset r f() { echo $r; } declare -n r r=/ /usr/bin/sum < /dev/null r=/ f unset -f f # the details of this may change; this will tell me when they do declare -n foo ; declare -i foo=7*6 ; declare -p foo unset -n foo declare -n foo ; declare -i foo ; foo=7*6 ; declare -p foo # used to be buggy f() { unset var declare -n ref=var declare -n ref declare -p ref } f unset -f f f() { local var declare -n ref=var declare -n ref declare -p ref } f