Definition [symbol]
prints as the definitions given for a symbol.
Definition [patt]
prints as the definitions given for the symbols whose names textually match the arbitrary string pattern patt.
Definition [{spec1,spec2,…}]
prints as the definitions given for the symbols that are equal to or or whose names match any of the speci.
Definition
Definition [symbol]
prints as the definitions given for a symbol.
Definition [patt]
prints as the definitions given for the symbols whose names textually match the arbitrary string pattern patt.
Definition [{spec1,spec2,…}]
prints as the definitions given for the symbols that are equal to or or whose names match any of the speci.
Details
- Definition [symbol] prints as all values, attributes, defaults and options for symbol. »
- The pattern patt can be given as a string with metacharacters, as StringExpression […] or as RegularExpression ["regex"]. »
- Definition allows abbreviated string patterns containing the following metacharacters:
-
* zero or more characters@ one or more characters, excluding uppercase letters
- Definition ["context`*"] prints as the definitions for all symbols in a particular context. »
- Definition ["`*"] prints as the definitions for all symbols in the current context. »
- Definition does not show rules associated with symbols that have attribute ReadProtected . »
- Definition has attribute HoldAll . »
Examples
open all close allBasic Examples (2)
Get the attributes, defaults and options for a built-in symbol:
Get the definitions for user-defined symbols:
Scope (9)
Symbol Inputs (4)
For built-in symbols, Definition gives attributes, defaults and options:
For user-defined symbols, Definition gives attributes, defaults, options and definitions:
Print the definitions of several symbols:
Use a combination of symbols and symbol names:
Using Patterns (5)
Specify symbols as string patterns:
Get the definitions for all symbols in the current context:
Get the definitions for all symbols in a given context:
Get the definitions for all 2-character symbols in the current context using StringExpression :
Get the definitions for all 3-character symbols in the current context using RegularExpression :
Properties & Relations (6)
For read-protected symbols, definitions are not given:
Definition gives attributes, defaults, options and values:
Definition [pattern] gives definitions for the symbols returned by Names [pattern]:
Definition does not give messages:
FullDefinition does give messages:
Use Messages to get the messages:
Information returns the values rendered by Definition , as well as usage messages:
?? is the same as Information :
Definition has the attribute HoldAll :
This gives the definition of symbol itself:
This gives the definition of its value:
Possible Issues (3)
Definition is an output form; it does not evaluate:
Definition ["symbol"] gives no values if there is no symbol named "symbol":
Definition ["symbol"] also gives no values if symbol has no values:
When using a pattern without a context mark, all definitions for matching symbols on $ContextPath are given:
Use a pattern with an explicit context mark to avoid potentially matching symbols from system or other contexts:
See Also
FullDefinition Information DownValues OwnValues UpValues SubValues Attributes Options Default DefaultValues SyntaxInformation
Function Repository: ShowDefinitions
Related Guides
Related Workflows
- Clear Definitions for Symbols and Functions ▪
- Find All Defined Functions
History
Introduced in 1988 (1.0) | Updated in 2022 (13.2)
Text
Wolfram Research (1988), Definition, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Definition.html (updated 2022).
CMS
Wolfram Language. 1988. "Definition." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2022. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Definition.html.
APA
Wolfram Language. (1988). Definition. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Definition.html
BibTeX
@misc{reference.wolfram_2025_definition, author="Wolfram Research", title="{Definition}", year="2022", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Definition.html}", note=[Accessed: 05-December-2025]}
BibLaTeX
@online{reference.wolfram_2025_definition, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={Definition}, year={2022}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Definition.html}, note=[Accessed: 05-December-2025]}