Thank you. But this is not what I am looking for. The question is about defining $cookie_abc and default it to $cookie_abc itself (if the value exists). the map will give me the value in $abc which I am not looking for. BTW set $cookie_abc "$abc"; will still reset the value of $abc to default Posted at Nginx Forum: http://forum.nginx.org/read.php?2,236075,236085#msg-236085