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7.4.1 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 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 are Boolean (`yes' or `no') or the names of files or functions; so this is not an important restriction.