easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
XK0-006 Practice Question: What does the `set -x` command do when placed at…
What does the `set -x` command do when placed at the top of a bash script?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse `set -x` with `set -e` (exit on error) or `set -u` (treat unset variables as error), because all three are common debugging options but serve distinct purposes.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Displays each command before executing it
`set -x` enables a shell debugging mode that prints each command (after expansion) to stderr before executing it. This is commonly used in bash scripts to trace execution flow and debug complex logic.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Enables position parameters
Why it's wrong here
Positional parameters are accessed via $1, $2, etc.; set -x does not affect them.
- ✗
Exits the script on error
Why it's wrong here
That is the function of set -e, not set -x.
- ✗
Treats unset variables as errors
Why it's wrong here
That is the behavior of set -u, not set -x.
- ✓
Displays each command before executing it
Why this is correct
Correct. set -x enables debugging output, printing commands and their arguments as they are executed.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Basic Shell Scripting
Key term
Bash script
A Bash script is a text file containing a sequence of commands for the Unix shell Bash, allowing users to automate repetitive tasks and streamline system administration on Linux and macOS.
Key term
Bash
Bash is a command-line interpreter that lets users interact with an operating system by typing text commands instead of clicking icons.
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