bash Cookbook

Using Array Variables

Problem

There have been plenty of scripts so far with variables, but can bash deal with an array of variables?

Solution

Yes. bash now has an array syntax for single-dimension arrays.

Description

Arrays are easy to initialize if you know the values as you write the script. The format is simple:

MYRA=(first second third home)

Each element of the array is a separate word in the list enclosed in parentheses. Then you can refer to each this way:

echo runners on ${MYRA[0]} and ${MYRA[2]}

This output is the result:

runners on first and third

If you write only $MYRA, you will get only the first element, just as if you had written ${MYRA[0]}.

See Also

• Learning the bash Shell by Cameron Newham (O’Reilly), pages 157–161 for more information about arrays