2.md

Chapter 2: The Variable Verse 🌌

2 - Getting user's input

Getting User's Input in Linux Shell Scripting

In Linux shell scripting, obtaining input from the user is a common requirement for interactive scripts. This input can be used for various purposes, such as configuring settings, providing data for processing, or making decisions within the script.

The read command

To prompt the user for input along with a message, you can use the read command followed by the variable name to store the input. Here's an example script:

#!/bin/bash

# Prompt the user for their name
echo "Please enter your name: "
read name

# Display a greeting message
echo "Hello, $name! Welcome to our script."

In this script, the read command waits for the user to input their name after displaying the message "Please enter your name:". The input provided by the user is stored in the variable name, which is then used to display a personalized greeting message.

With Message Prompts

If you need a message prompt while capture user input, you can use the read command with -p option. Here's an example:

#!/bin/bash

# Read user input directly without a prompt
read -p "Enter your favorite color: " color

# Display the user's favorite color
echo "Your favorite color is: $color"

In this script, the -p option with the read command allows you to provide a prompt message directly within the command. The user inputs their favorite color after the prompt, which is then stored in the variable color and displayed back to the user.

Conclusion

Getting user input is a fundamental aspect of shell scripting, enabling scripts to interact with users and adapt their behavior based on the provided input. Whether with or without message prompts, the read command facilitates capturing user input effectively in Linux shell scripts.

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