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Learning Linux Shell Scripting

You're reading from   Learning Linux Shell Scripting Leverage the power of shell scripts to solve real-world problems

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Product type Paperback
Published in May 2018
Publisher Packt
ISBN-13 9781788993197
Length 332 pages
Edition 2nd Edition
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Author (1):
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Ganesh Sanjiv Naik Ganesh Sanjiv Naik
Author Profile Icon Ganesh Sanjiv Naik
Ganesh Sanjiv Naik
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Table of Contents (17) Chapters Close

Preface 1. Getting Started and Working with Shell Scripting FREE CHAPTER 2. Drilling Deep into Process Management, Job Control, and Automation 3. Using Text Processing and Filters in Your Scripts 4. Working with Commands 5. Exploring Expressions and Variables 6. Neat Tricks with Shell Scripting 7. Performing Arithmetic Operations in Shell Scripts 8. Automating Decision-Making in Scripts 9. Automating Repetitive Tasks 10. Working with Functions 11. Using Advanced Functionality in Scripts 12. System Startup and Customizing a Linux System 13. Pattern Matching and Regular Expressions with sed and awk 14. Taking Backup and Embedding Other Languages in Shell Scripts 15. Database Administration Using Shell Scripts 16. Other Books You May Enjoy

Using a declare command for arithmetic

Whenever we declare any variable, by default, this variable stores the string type
of data. We cannot do arithmetic operations on them. We can declare a variable as
an integer by using the declare command. Such variables are declared as integers;
if we try to assign a string to them, then bash assigns 0 to these variables.

Bash will report an error if we try to assign fractional values (floating points) to integer variables.

We can create an integer variable called value, shown as follows:

    $ declare -i value
  

We tell the shell that the variable value is of type integer. Otherwise, the shell treats all variables as character strings:

  • If we try to assign the name string to the integer variable value, then the value variable will be assigned the 0 value by the Bash shell:
    $ value=name
    $ echo $value
    0
  
  • We need to enclose...
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