ABOUT readonly Marks name specified by Name parameter as read-only. TYPICAL COMMANDLINE SESSION [bash] $a=1 $a=2 $echo $a 2 $readonly a $a=1 bash: a: readonly variable $echo $a 2 $a=2 bash: a: readonly variable $ [/bash] LINK https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/ssw_aix_72/com.ibm.aix.osdevice/bourne_shell_builtin_cmd_list.htm