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Bash #4 – Quote function parameters

I try to extract stuff into functions both for re-use and encapsulation. Coming from Java Bash itself leaves a lot to be desired in this area but that´s a different post. What I´ve found is that if I don´t encapsulate input variables with quotes it can become quite confusing what is defined and not. If you don´t quote and a variable is unset, it will shift your input.

function myfunc() {
	local OPTION_ONE=$1
	local OPTION_TWO=$2

	echo "$OPTION_ONE and $OPTION_TWO"
}

VARTWO="hello"

myfunc $VARONE $VARTWO
myfunc "$VARONE" "$VARTWO"

In the first (unquoted) line above OPTION_ONE inside the functio will “become” VARTWO. In the second example with quotes it´s easier to understand that VARONE is the one missing, because it doesn´t shift it to the left.

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