option — CMake 4.3.0 Documentation

# option

Provide a boolean option that the user can optionally select.

    option(<variable> "<help_text>" [value])

If no initial `<value>` is provided, boolean `OFF` is the default value. If `<variable>` is already set as a normal or cache variable, then the command does nothing (see policy `CMP0077`).

In CMake project mode, a boolean cache variable is created with the option value. In CMake script mode, a boolean variable is set with the option value.

## See Also

- The `CMakeDependentOption` module to specify boolean options that depend on the values of other options or a set of conditions.