Variables in Bash are declared in the following way: ```shell [declare] [options] variable_name=[variable value] ``` The `declare` keyword (_and its [options]_) are optional _in some cases._ The following **text variable** examples are equivalent: ```shell # Long-version: declare monster_name="Dragon" # Short-hand: monster_name="Dragon" ``` #### No Spaces Note that there are _**no spaces**_ on either side of the `=` sign. ```shell # UNSUPPORTED monster_name = "Dragon" monster_name= "Dragon" monster_name ="Dragon" # SUPPORTED monster_name="Dragon" ```