test command and [ ] syntax in Bash Scripting - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

💻 Command Output

intermediate

Output of test command with string comparison

What is the output of this bash script snippet?

Bash Scripting

if test "abc" = "abc"; then echo success; else echo fail; fi

A syntax error

B success

C test: command not found

D fail

💡 Hint

The test command checks if two strings are equal.

The test command with '=' compares strings. Since both are "abc", the condition is true and 'success' is printed.

💻 Command Output

intermediate

Behavior of [ ] with numeric comparison

What will this script print?

Bash Scripting

if [ 5 -gt 3 ]; then echo yes; else echo no; fi

A yes

B no

C syntax error

D command not found

💡 Hint

The -gt operator compares numbers inside [ ].

5 is greater than 3, so the condition is true and 'yes' is printed.

💻 Command Output

advanced

Effect of missing spaces in [ ] test

What error or output does this script produce?

Bash Scripting

if [5 -eq 5]; then echo ok; else echo fail; fi

A fail

B syntax error

C ok

D bash: [5: command not found

💡 Hint

Remember that spaces are required around [ and ] in bash tests.

Without spaces, bash treats '[5' as a command, which does not exist, causing a command not found error.

💻 Command Output

advanced

Difference between test and [ ] with file existence

What is the output of this script if file.txt exists?

Bash Scripting

if test -f file.txt; then echo found; else echo missing; fi

A syntax error

B missing

C found

D command not found

💡 Hint

The -f option checks if a file exists and is a regular file.

If file.txt exists as a regular file, test -f returns true and 'found' is printed.

💻 Command Output

expert

Complex condition with test and [ ] combined

What does this script print if variable VAR is empty?

Bash Scripting

VAR=""; if test -z "$VAR" && [ 1 -eq 1 ]; then echo pass; else echo fail; fi

A pass

B fail

C syntax error

D command not found

💡 Hint

test -z checks if a string is empty; && combines conditions.

VAR is empty, so test -z "$VAR" is true, and [ 1 -eq 1 ] is also true, so 'pass' is printed.