[SOLVED] ("") vs ('') what is the difference...?

RaptorX · 07-21-2009, 11:14 AM

Im just wondering what is the difference between using double quotes ("") and single quotes ('') when enclosing a command parameter... example:

im modifying my .bashrc file and I have the follwoing two commands:

Code:

export PS1="[\[\033[1;34m\w\[\033[0m]\n[\t \u]$"

and

Code:

BLACK='\e[0;30m'

would it be the same to exchange the symbols or not?...
just wondering...

colucix · 07-21-2009, 11:23 AM

Single quotes prevent shell expansion: they protect a string from the shell so that it can be interpreted literally. Double quotes let the shell do expansion so that you can use shell variables (or commands) inside a string. More info here and here.

RaptorX · 07-21-2009, 11:35 AM

thanks for the info...

so that means that for example in my bashrc i declared BLACK then:

PS1="${BLACK}blah blah blah" would work while:

PS1='${BLACK} blah blah blah' wouldnt?? it would take it literally?

colucix · 07-21-2009, 11:37 AM

Yes. You got the point!

RaptorX · 07-21-2009, 11:40 AM

im reading now... thanks for the links!

John VV · 07-21-2009, 03:12 PM

you missed the " back tic" -- " ` ` "