Assign values to shell variables

Creating and setting variables within a script is fairly simple. Use the following syntax:

varName=someValue

someValue is assigned to given varName and someValue must be on right side of = (equal) sign. If someValue is not given, the variable is assigned the null string.

How Do I Display The Variable Value?

You can display the value of a variable with echo $varName or echo ${varName}:

echo "$varName"

OR

echo "${varName}"

OR

printf "${varName}"

OR

printf "%s\n" ${varName}

For example, create a variable called vech, and give it a value 'Bus', type the following at a shell prompt:

vech=Bus

Display the value of a variable vech with echo command:

echo "$vech"

OR

echo "${vech}"

Create a variable called _jail and give it a value "/httpd.java.jail_2", type the following at a shell prompt:

_jail="/httpd.java.jail_2"
printf "The java jail is located at %s\nStarting chroot()...\n" $_jail

However,

n=10 # this is ok
10=no# Error, NOT Ok, Value must be on right side of = sign.

Common Examples

Define your home directory:

myhome="/home/v/vivek"
echo "$myhome"

Set file path:

input="/home/sales/data.txt"
echo "Input file $input"

Store current date (you can store the output of date by running the shell command):

NOW=$(date)
echo $NOW

Set NAS device backup path:

BACKUP="/nas05"
echo "Backing up files to $BACKUP/$USERNAME"

More About ${varName} Syntax

You need to use ${varName} to avoid any kind of ambiguity. For example, try to print "MySHELL=>$SHELLCode<="

echo "MySHELL=>$SHELLCode<="

Sample outputs:

MySHELL=><=

The bash shell would try to look for an variable called SHELLCode instead of $SHELL. To avoid this kind of ambiguity use ${varName} syntax i.e. ${BASH}Code:

echo "MySHELL=>${SHELL}Code<="

Sample outputs:

MySHELL=>/bin/bashCode<=