Grouping commands in list

( cmd1; cmd2; )

• Executed in a sub-shell environment.
  • e.g., exit as last command does not affect the main shell
• Variable assignments do not remain in effect.

{ cmd1; cmd2; cmd3; }

• Executed in the current shell environment.
  • e.g., exit as last command makes the main shell exit
• The return status is the exit status of the last command in the list.
• { and } are reserved words, so they must be separated from the commands with a space.