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When sourcing a script with either source or ., the contents of the script is executed in the current shell's environment. Any functions defined in the sourced script will be available in the current shell after sourcing, as well as any shell variables (without the need for exporting). This is the purpose of sourcing a script.

This is how a /etc/profile or /etc/bash.bashrc file is able to set up a basic environment for a interactive/login shell, for example.

Moreover, some commands are executed in a subshell environment that is a duplicate of the shell environment. In such an environment, shell variables and functions are available. See also the POSIX standard about Shell Execution Environment:

A subshell environment shall be created as a duplicate of the shell environment, except that signal traps that are not being ignored shall be set to the default action. Changes made to the subshell environment shall not affect the shell environment. Command substitution, commands that are grouped with parentheses, and asynchronous lists shall be executed in a subshell environment. Additionally, each command of a multi-command pipeline is in a subshell environment; as an extension, however, any or all commands in a pipeline may be executed in the current environment. All other commands shall be executed in the current shell environment.

Note that a subshell is different from a child process.

Exporting a variable is only needed to create an environment variable. Environment variables are inherited by any child process.

Also note that having a directory called ~/.bash_profile is a bit confusing, as a bash shell will try to source the regular file ~/.bash_profile when starting a login shell. I suggest that you rename your ~/.bash_profile directory into something like ~/.shell or ~/.shell_startup if you want to move your shell initialization files elsewhere. These file would still have to be called from ~/.bash_profile and ~/.bashrc if you wish them to be sourced automatically.

When sourcing a script with either source or ., the contents of the script is executed in the current shell's environment. Any functions defined in the sourced script will be available in the current shell after sourcing, as well as any shell variables (without the need for exporting). This is the purpose of sourcing a script.

This is how a /etc/profile or /etc/bash.bashrc file is able to set up a basic environment for a interactive/login shell, for example.

Moreover, some commands are executed in a subshell environment that is a duplicate of the shell environment. In such an environment, shell variables and functions are available. See also the POSIX standard about Shell Execution Environment (my emphasis):

A subshell environment shall be created as a duplicate of the shell environment, except that signal traps that are not being ignored shall be set to the default action. Changes made to the subshell environment shall not affect the shell environment. Command substitution, commands that are grouped with parentheses, and asynchronous lists shall be executed in a subshell environment. Additionally, each command of a multi-command pipeline is in a subshell environment; as an extension, however, any or all commands in a pipeline may be executed in the current environment. All other commands shall be executed in the current shell environment.

Note that a subshell is different from a child process.

Exporting a variable is only needed to create an environment variable. Environment variables are inherited by any child process.

Also note that having a directory called ~/.bash_profile is a bit confusing, as a bash shell will try to source the regular file ~/.bash_profile when starting a login shell. I suggest that you rename your ~/.bash_profile directory into something like ~/.shell or ~/.shell_startup if you want to move your shell initialization files elsewhere. These file would still have to be called from ~/.bash_profile and ~/.bashrc if you wish them to be sourced automatically.

When sourcing a script with either source or ., the contents of the script is executed in the current shell's environment. Any functions defined in the sourced script will be available in the current shell after sourcing, as well as any shell variables (without the need for exporting). This is the purpose of sourcing a script.

Moreover, some commands (command substitution, commands grouped with parentheses, asynchronous command) are invoked in a subshell environment that is a duplicate of the shell environment [Bash Reference Manual, section "Command Execution Environment"].

This is how a /etc/profile or /etc/bash.bashrc file is able to set up a basic environment for a interactive/login shell, for example.

Exporting a variable is only needed to create an environment variable. Environment variables are inherited by any child process.

Also note that having a directory called ~/.bash_profile is a bit confusing, as a bash shell will try to source the _regular file ~/.bash_profile when starting a login shell. I suggest that you rename ~/.bash_profile into something like ~/.shell or ~/.shell_startup if you want to move your shell initialization files elsewhere. These file would still have to be called from ~/.bash_profile and ~/.bashrc if you wish them to be sourced automatically.

When sourcing a script with either source or ., the contents of the script is executed in the current shell's environment. Any functions defined in the sourced script will be available in the current shell after sourcing, as well as any shell variables (without the need for exporting). This is the purpose of sourcing a script.

This is how a /etc/profile or /etc/bash.bashrc file is able to set up a basic environment for a interactive/login shell, for example.

Moreover, some commands are executed in a subshell environment that is a duplicate of the shell environment. In such an environment, shell variables and functions are available. See also the POSIX standard about Shell Execution Environment:

A subshell environment shall be created as a duplicate of the shell environment, except that signal traps that are not being ignored shall be set to the default action. Changes made to the subshell environment shall not affect the shell environment. Command substitution, commands that are grouped with parentheses, and asynchronous lists shall be executed in a subshell environment. Additionally, each command of a multi-command pipeline is in a subshell environment; as an extension, however, any or all commands in a pipeline may be executed in the current environment. All other commands shall be executed in the current shell environment.

Note that a subshell is different from a child process.

Exporting a variable is only needed to create an environment variable. Environment variables are inherited by any child process.

Also note that having a directory called ~/.bash_profile is a bit confusing, as a bash shell will try to source the regular file ~/.bash_profile when starting a login shell. I suggest that you rename your ~/.bash_profile directory into something like ~/.shell or ~/.shell_startup if you want to move your shell initialization files elsewhere. These file would still have to be called from ~/.bash_profile and ~/.bashrc if you wish them to be sourced automatically.

When sourcing a script with either source or ., the contents of the script is executed in the current shell's environment. Any functions defined in the sourced script will be available in the current shell after sourcing, as well as any shell variables (without the need for exporting). This is the purpose of sourcing a script.

This is how a /etc/profile or /etc/bash.bashrc file is able to set up a basic environment for a interactive/login shell, for example.

Exporting a variable is only needed to create an environment variable. Environment variables are inherited by any child process.

Also note that having a directory called ~/.bash_profile is a bit confusing, as a bash shell will try to source the _regular file ~/.bash_profile when starting a login shell. I suggest that you rename ~/.bash_profile into something like ~/.shell or ~/.shell_startup if you want to move your shell initialization files elsewhere. These file would still have to be called from ~/.bash_profile and ~/.bashrc if you wish them to be sourced automatically.

When sourcing a script with either source or ., the contents of the script is executed in the current shell's environment. Any functions defined in the sourced script will be available in the current shell after sourcing, as well as any shell variables (without the need for exporting). This is the purpose of sourcing a script.

Moreover, some commands (command substitution, commands grouped with parentheses, asynchronous command) are invoked in a subshell environment that is a duplicate of the shell environment [Bash Reference Manual, section "Command Execution Environment"].

This is how a /etc/profile or /etc/bash.bashrc file is able to set up a basic environment for a interactive/login shell, for example.

Exporting a variable is only needed to create an environment variable. Environment variables are inherited by any child process.

Also note that having a directory called ~/.bash_profile is a bit confusing, as a bash shell will try to source the _regular file ~/.bash_profile when starting a login shell. I suggest that you rename ~/.bash_profile into something like ~/.shell or ~/.shell_startup if you want to move your shell initialization files elsewhere. These file would still have to be called from ~/.bash_profile and ~/.bashrc if you wish them to be sourced automatically.