7.3.1 Cache Variable Names

The names of cache variables should have the following format:

package-prefix_cv_value-type_specific-value_[additional-options]

for example, `ac_cv_header_stat_broken' or `ac_cv_prog_gcc_traditional'. The parts of the variable name are:

package-prefix

An abbreviation for your package or organization; the same prefix you begin local Autoconf macros with, except lowercase by convention. For cache values used by the distributed Autoconf macros, this value is `ac'.

_cv_

Indicates that this shell variable is a cache value. This string must be present in the variable name, including the leading underscore.

value-type

A convention for classifying cache values, to produce a rational naming system. The values used in Autoconf are listed in 9.2 Macro Names.

specific-value

Which member of the class of cache values this test applies to. For example, which function (`alloca'), program (`gcc'), or output variable (`INSTALL').

additional-options

Any particular behavior of the specific member that this test applies to. For example, `broken' or `set'. This part of the name may be omitted if it does not apply.

The values assigned to cache variables may not contain newlines. Usually, their values will be Boolean (`yes' or `no') or the names of files or functions; so this is not an important restriction.