How Do I Return a String from a Function in Bash

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 do I return a value from a function in bash?

When a bash function ends its return value is its status: zero for success, non-zero for failure. To return values, you can set a global variable with the result, or use command substitution, or you can pass in the name of a variable to use as the result variable.

How do I extract a substring in bash?

Using the cut Command Specifying the character index isn’t the only way to extract a substring. You can also use the -d and -f flags to extract a string by specifying characters to split on. The -d flag lets you specify the delimiter to split on while -f lets you choose which substring of the split to choose.

Maya Lin-Takahashi

Maya Lin-Takahashi

Consumer Tech & Gadget Reviewer

Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.

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