Command-line arguments ($1, $2, ...) in Bash Scripting - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What does $1 represent in a bash script?

$1 is the first command-line argument passed to the script when you run it.

beginner

How do you access the second command-line argument in a bash script?

You use $2 to get the second argument passed to the script.

beginner

What does $# mean in a bash script?

$# gives the number of command-line arguments passed to the script.

intermediate

How can you access all command-line arguments as a single string?

Use $* to get all arguments as one string separated by spaces.

intermediate

What is the difference between $* and $@ in bash?

$* treats all arguments as a single word, while $@ treats each argument as a separate word, especially when quoted.

In a bash script, what does $3 represent?

A The third command-line argument

B The total number of arguments

C The script name

D The first command-line argument

$3 is the third argument passed to the script.

Which variable holds the number of command-line arguments in a bash script?

A $0

B $*

C $@

D $#

$# gives the count of arguments passed.

How do you access the script's own name inside a bash script?

A $#

B $1

C $0

D $@

$0 holds the script's filename.

What is the output of echo "$*" if the script is run with arguments: apple banana cherry?

A applebanana cherry

B apple banana cherry

C apple,banana,cherry

D apple

$* joins all arguments separated by spaces.

Which is true about "$@" in bash?

A It treats each argument as a separate quoted string

B It combines all arguments into one string

C It counts the number of arguments

D It holds the script name

"$@" expands each argument as a separate quoted string.

Explain how to use command-line arguments in a bash script and how to access the first three arguments.

Think about how you run a script with extra words after the script name.

Describe the difference between $* and $@ in bash scripting when handling multiple arguments.

Consider how quoting affects the way arguments are grouped.