(gawk.info)Built-in Variables

Built-in Variables
******************

   Most `awk' variables are available for you to use for your own
purposes; they never change except when your program assigns values to
them, and never affect anything except when your program examines them.
However, a few variables in `awk' have special built-in meanings.  Some
of them `awk' examines automatically, so that they enable you to tell
`awk' how to do certain things.  Others are set automatically by `awk',
so that they carry information from the internal workings of `awk' to
your program.

   This chapter documents all the built-in variables of `gawk'.  Most
of them are also documented in the chapters describing their areas of
activity.



* User-modified
Built-in variables that you change to control
`awk'.
* Auto-set
Built-in variables where `awk' gives you
information.
* ARGC and ARGV
Ways to use `ARGC' and `ARGV'.