bash varible define query

noir911 · 10-18-2006, 05:09 AM

I noticed that there's no difference in defining varibales without double-quotations (")

Code:

VARIABLE=/path/to/file

VARIABLE="/path/to/file"

I was wondering why bash doesn't give any warning or error if I define variables witout the quotes? What difference does it make?

acid_kewpie · 10-18-2006, 05:28 AM

it certainly should complain. if you run your first example there then bash will interpret the word "is" as the command you wish to run, and run it... and fail... the second example doesn't need quotes, but the first certainly would do.

noir911 · 10-18-2006, 05:33 AM

Sorry about the confusion but there is no "is" here.

I meant to say the different between

Code:

VARIABLE=/path/to/file

VARIABLE="/path/to/file"

acid_kewpie · 10-18-2006, 05:54 AM

ahh well there you go... the whitespace is what requires the "'s... so you've answered yourself really.

ygloo · 10-18-2006, 01:39 PM

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