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OwnValues[x]

gives a list of transformation rules corresponding to all ownvalues defined for the symbol x.

OwnValues["symbol"]

gives a list of transformation rules corresponding to all ownvalues defined for the symbol named "symbol" if it exists.

Details and Options
Details and Options Details and Options
Examples  
Basic Examples  
Scope  
Applications  
Properties & Relations  
Neat Examples  
See Also
Tech Notes
Related Guides
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OwnValues

OwnValues[x]

gives a list of transformation rules corresponding to all ownvalues defined for the symbol x.

OwnValues["symbol"]

gives a list of transformation rules corresponding to all ownvalues defined for the symbol named "symbol" if it exists.

Details and Options

  • Ownvalues are definitions for the symbol appearing on its own.
  • You can specify the ownvalues for x by making an assignment of the form OwnValues[x]=list.
  • The list returned by OwnValues has elements of the form HoldPattern[lhs]:>rhs.

Examples

open all close all

Basic Examples  (1)

Set a value for x:

Wolfram Language code: x = 7;

Display its ownvalues:

Wolfram Language code: OwnValues[x]

Scope  (3)

OwnValues returns rules corresponding to definitions made for symbols:

Wolfram Language code: x = 5;
Wolfram Language code: OwnValues[x]

Create several values:

Wolfram Language code: x1 = 1;x2 = 3;y = 5;

Obtain the ownvalues of symbols whose names start with x:

Wolfram Language code: OwnValues /@ Names["x*"]

OwnValues can be used to set values directly:

Wolfram Language code: OwnValues[y] = {y :> 17};
Wolfram Language code: Definition[y]
Wolfram Language code: y

Applications  (2)

The resulting rules are in the order given:

Wolfram Language code: x /; y > -2 := f x /; y < 2 := g
Wolfram Language code: OwnValues[x]
Wolfram Language code: Block[{y = 0}, x]

Now reorder the definitions:

Wolfram Language code: OwnValues[x] = Reverse[OwnValues[x]]
Wolfram Language code: Block[{y = 0}, x]

Copy a symbol's definitions to another symbol:

Wolfram Language code: x = 7;
Wolfram Language code: OwnValues[y] = OwnValues[x] /. HoldPattern[x] -> y
Wolfram Language code: y
Wolfram Language code: % == x

Properties & Relations  (6)

Values can be defined by immediate or delayed assignments:

Wolfram Language code: x = 17; r := RandomReal[];
Wolfram Language code: {OwnValues[x], OwnValues[r]}

HoldPattern is used to protect the rules from their own definitions:

Wolfram Language code: x = 5;
Wolfram Language code: OwnValues[x]
Wolfram Language code: x :> 5

OwnValues has attribute HoldAll to protect against its argument's values:

Wolfram Language code: x = y;
Wolfram Language code: {OwnValues[x], OwnValues[Evaluate[x]]}

OwnValues["sym"] will issue a message if the specified symbol does not exist:

Wolfram Language code: OwnValues["x"]

If the symbol exists but has no definitions, an empty list is returned:

Wolfram Language code: x; OwnValues["x"]

Definition and Information display ownvalues but do not return them as values:

Wolfram Language code: x = 5;
Wolfram Language code: Definition[x]

OwnValues returns a value that can be used in a program:

Wolfram Language code: OwnValues[x]

Evaluation of a symbol is equivalent to applying the rules for its definition:

Wolfram Language code: x = 5;
Wolfram Language code: Hold[x] /. OwnValues[x]

Neat Examples  (1)

Copy a symbol's value to another symbol:

Wolfram Language code: x = 17;
Wolfram Language code: OwnValues[y] = OwnValues[x] /. HoldPattern[x] :> y
Wolfram Language code: y
Wolfram Research (1991), OwnValues, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/OwnValues.html (updated 2022).

Text

Wolfram Research (1991), OwnValues, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/OwnValues.html (updated 2022).

CMS

Wolfram Language. 1991. "OwnValues." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2022. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/OwnValues.html.

APA

Wolfram Language. (1991). OwnValues. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/OwnValues.html

BibTeX

@misc{reference.wolfram_2026_ownvalues, author="Wolfram Research", title="{OwnValues}", year="2022", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/OwnValues.html}", note=[Accessed: 13-June-2026]}

BibLaTeX

@online{reference.wolfram_2026_ownvalues, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={OwnValues}, year={2022}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/OwnValues.html}, note=[Accessed: 13-June-2026]}