# begin - start a new block of code

## Synopsis

    begin; [COMMANDS ...]; end
    { [COMMANDS ...] }

## Description

`begin` is used to create a new block of code.

A block allows the introduction of a new variable scope, redirection of the input or output of a set of commands as a group, or to specify precedence when using the conditional commands like `and`.

The block is unconditionally executed. `begin; ...; end` is equivalent to `if true; ...; end`.

`begin` does not change the current exit status itself. After the block has completed, `$status` will be set to the status returned by the most recent command.

Some other shells only support the `{ [COMMANDS ...] ; }` notation.

The -h or --help option displays help about using this command.

## Example

The following code sets a number of variables inside of a block scope. Since the variables are set inside the block and have local scope, they will be automatically deleted when the block ends.

    begin
        set -l PIRATE Yarrr

        ...
    end

    echo $PIRATE
    # This will not output anything, since the PIRATE variable
    # went out of scope at the end of the block

In the following code, all output is redirected to the file out.html.

    begin
        echo $xml_header
        echo $html_header
        if test -e $file
            ...
        end
        ...
    end > out.html