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how do i return a string from a function in bash

by Dr. Pablo Bins Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Bash function can return a string value by using a global variable. In the following example, a global variable, 'retval' is used. A string value is assigned and printed in this global variable before and after calling the function. The value of the global variable will be changed after calling the function.

How to return a string array from a function?

How to return an array in Java. In this section, we are going to learn how to return an array in Java. Remember: A method can return a reference to an array. The return type of a method must be declared as an array of the correct data type. Example 1. In the following example, the method returns an array of integer type.

How to chain function return codes in bash script?

Syntax

  • If N is not specified, the return status is that of the last command.
  • The return command terminates the function.
  • The return command is not necessary when the return value is that of the last command executed.

How to return a string in a function?

Using the Python return Statement: Best Practices

  • Returning None Explicitly. ...
  • Remembering the Return Value. ...
  • Avoiding Complex Expressions. ...
  • Returning Values vs Modifying Globals. ...
  • Using return With Conditionals. ...
  • Returning True or False. ...
  • Short-Circuiting Loops. ...
  • Recognizing Dead Code. ...
  • Returning Multiple Named-Objects. ...

How to exit a function in Bash?

intFunc = ExitFunction() After that we return the Message box with the value of intFunc: MsgBox "The value of intFunc is " & intFunc If you run the CallExitFunction, it will first call the function ExitFunc. If you execute this code in the debug mode, you will see that it will go through the loop 5 times.

How do you return a string from a function in shell script?

Returning a string or word from a functionYou cannot return a word or anything else from a function.However, you can use echo or printf command to send back output easily to the script.

How do I return a value from a function in bash?

When a bash function completes, its return value is the status of the last statement executed in the function, 0 for success and non-zero decimal number in the 1 - 255 range for failure. The return status can be specified by using the return keyword, and it is assigned to the variable $? .

How do you return a value from a function in Linux?

return command is used to exit from a shell function. It takes a parameter [N], if N is mentioned then it returns [N] and if N is not mentioned then it returns the status of the last command executed within the function or script. N can only be a numeric value.

How do I return in bash?

A bash function can return a value via its exit status after execution. By default, a function returns the exit code from the last executed command inside the function. It will stop the function execution once it is called. You can use the return builtin command to return an arbitrary number instead.

Can we return value from bash script?

Bash functions, unlike functions in most programming languages do not allow you to return a value to the caller. When a bash function ends its return value is its status: zero for success, non-zero for failure.

What is return in bash?

Return is a bash builtin function that causes to update the exit status specified by n . Return is intended to be used only for signaling errors, not for returning the results of function.

How do I substring in bash?

Example 1: To Extract till Specific Characters from Starting#!/bin/bash.#Script to extract first 10 characters of a string.echo "String: We welcome you on Javatpoint."str="We welcome you on Javatpoint."echo "Total characters in a String: ${#str} "substr="${str:0:10}"echo "Substring: $substr"More items...

What is $@ in bash?

bash [filename] runs the commands saved in a file. $@ refers to all of a shell script's command-line arguments. $1 , $2 , etc., refer to the first command-line argument, the second command-line argument, etc. Place variables in quotes if the values might have spaces in them.

What is Retval in shell script?

RETVAL is a system variable, and the -eq is a numeric test for equality. In this case, the return value again determines whether the test is true or false.

How do you exit a function in bash?

Exit Status: Returns N, or failure if the shell is not executing a function or script. Note that if you have set -e set at the top of your script and your return 1 or any other number besides 0, your entire script will exit.

How do I return an array in bash?

This approach involves the following three steps:Convert the array with 'declare -p' and save the output in a variable. ... Use the echo builtin to pass the variable to a function or to pass it back from there. ... Finally, recreate the array where it is passed to using the eval and the 'declare -a' builtins.

How do you write a function in bash?

Bash Function SyntaxWhen writing in one line, the commands must end with a semicolon ( ; ), whether in bash scripts or the terminal directly.Adding the function reserved word makes parentheses optional.The commands between the curly braces { } are called the function's body.More items...•

Example-1: Using Global Variable

Bash function can return a string value by using a global variable. In the following example, a global variable, ‘retval’ is used. A string value i...

Example-2: Using Function Command

You can receive the return value of a bash function and store it in a variable at the time of calling. In the following example, a local variable,...

Example-3: Using Variable

In the following example, the return value of the function is set based on the argument variable of the function. Here, a value is passed to the fu...

Example-4: Using Return Statement

Most of the standard programming language use return statement to return a value from the function. Function values are returned without using any...

Helping the forgetful programmer

Atleast I would struggle to always remember error checking after something like this: var=$ (myFunction)

Using printf instead of eval

Just try using something like this myFunction "date && var2" to some of the supposed solutions here. eval will execute whatever is given to it. I only want to assign values so I use printf -v "$ {returnVariable}" "%s" "$ {value}" instead.

Encapsulation and protection against variable name collision

If a different user or at least someone with less knowledge about the function (this is likely me in some months time) is using myFunction I do not want them to know that he must use a global return value name or some variable names are forbidden to use. That is why I added a name check at the top of myFunction:

myFunction ()

myFunction () { if [ [ "$ {1}" = "returnVariable" ]]; then echo "Cannot give the ouput to \"returnVariable\" as a variable with the same name is used in myFunction ()!" echo "If that is still what you want to do please do that outside of myFunction ()!" return 1 fi if [ [ "$ {1}" = "value" ]]; then echo "Cannot give the ouput to \"value\" as a variable with the same name is used in myFunction ()!" echo "If that is still what you want to do please do that outside of myFunction ()!" return 1 fi local returnVariable="$ {1}" local value=$'===========\nHello World\n===========' echo "setting the returnVariable now..." printf -v "$ {returnVariable}" "%s" "$ {value}" }.

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