Values of options are either ''strings'', ''numbers'' or ''booleans''. Options are ''static'' and not bound to a single operation (for example, the next command). Various ways exist to access and change options:
* The current value of an option can be requested with the {{Command|GETSHOW OPTIONS}} command. Local options can be changed via {{Command|SET}} (all global options, except for {{Option|DEBUG}}, can only be changed at startup time). If an option is of type ''boolean'', and if no value is specified, its current value will be inverted.
* The {{Code|.basex}} [[Configuration#Configuration Files|configuration file]] is parsed by every new local BaseX instance. It contains all global options. Local options can be specified at the end of the file after the {{Code|Local Options}} comment: