Return values (return and echo) in Bash Scripting - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

💻 Command Output

intermediate

What is the output of this Bash function call?

Consider the following Bash script. What will be printed when the function is called?

Bash Scripting

myfunc() {
  echo "Hello"
  return 5
}
myfunc
echo $?  # prints the return value of the function

A Hello\n5

B 5\nHello

C Hello

D 5

💡 Hint

Remember that echo prints to standard output, and return sets the exit status.

The function prints "Hello" first. Then the return 5 sets the exit status to 5. The echo $? prints that exit status after the function call.

💻 Command Output

intermediate

What does this script output?

What is the output of this Bash script?

Bash Scripting

func() {
  local val=10
  echo $val
  return 3
}
result=$(func)
echo "$result"
echo $?  # exit status of func

A 3\n10

B 10\n3

C 10\n0

D 3\n0

💡 Hint

Check what is captured by command substitution and what is the exit status.

The command substitution captures the echo output "10". The return 3 sets the exit status. echo $? prints 3.

📝 Syntax

advanced

Which option causes a syntax error in a Bash function?

Which of these function definitions will cause a syntax error?

A myfunc() { echo "Hi"; return 1; }

B myfunc() { echo "Hi"; return 1 }

C } ;1 nruter ;"iH" ohce { )(cnufym

D myfunc() { echo "Hi" return 1; }

💡 Hint

Look for missing semicolons or command separators.

Option D misses a semicolon or newline between echo and return, causing syntax error.

🚀 Application

advanced

How to capture both output and return code from a Bash function?

You want to capture the output of a Bash function and also check its return code. Which snippet does this correctly?

A

output=$(myfunc; ret=$?)
echo "$output"
echo $ret

B

ret=$(myfunc)
output=$?
echo "$output"
echo $ret

C

output=$(myfunc)
ret=$?
echo "$output"
echo $ret

D

output=myfunc
ret=$?
echo "$output"
echo $ret

💡 Hint

Remember that $? holds the exit status of the last command.

Option C correctly captures output with $(myfunc) and then saves the exit status with ret=$?.

🧠 Conceptual

expert

What is the difference between return and echo in Bash functions?

Which statement best describes the difference between return and echo in Bash functions?

A "return" sets the function's exit status, "echo" prints text to standard output.

B "return" sends a value to the caller as output, "echo" sets the function's exit status.

C "return" prints text to standard output, "echo" sets the function's exit status.

D "return" and "echo" both print text but differ in syntax.

💡 Hint

Think about what return and echo do in a shell script.

In Bash, return sets the exit status (a number 0-255), echo prints text to the screen or output stream.