arguments | Unix/Linux and Ubuntu tips-and-tricks

bash scripts multiple arguments

Example how to parse multiple arguments, one-by-one, in bash – be aware of the importance of surrounding “$@” and “$ARG_I” within double-quotes.

	#!/bin/bash
	[[ $# -gt 1 ]] \|\| { echo "Usage: $0 <arg1> <arg2> … <argN>"; exit 255; }

	echo 'Dont forget to surround the "$@" with the double-quotes '' so that it does not divide arguments that contain spaces.'
	echo 'Samewise, you also need to surround the "$ARG_I" var'
	for ARG_I in "$@"; do
	echo '$@ = '"$@"
	echo '$ARG_I = '"$ARG_I"
	done



	# paulo@lnxp:/tmp$ bash a.sh "Arg1" "I'm argument 2 with spaces" "And Im arg3"
	# $@ = Arg1 I'm argument 2 with spaces And Im arg3
	# $ARG_I = Arg1
	# $@ = Arg1 I'm argument 2 with spaces And Im arg3
	# $ARG_I = I'm argument 2 with spaces
	# $@ = Arg1 I'm argument 2 with spaces And Im arg3
	# $ARG_I = And Im arg3
	#
	# NOTE:
	# Dont forget to surround the "$@" with the double-quotes so that it does not divide arguments that contain spaces.
	# Samewise, you also need to surround the "$ARG_I" var