Color output (ANSI escape codes) in Bash Scripting - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

💻 Command Output

intermediate

What is the output color of this script?

This bash script prints the word Success in a specific color. What color will the text appear as in the terminal?

Bash Scripting

echo -e "\e[32mSuccess\e[0m"

A Green

B Red

C Blue

D Yellow

💡 Hint

Look up the ANSI color code 32.

The ANSI escape code \e[32m sets the text color to green. The \e[0m resets the color back to default.

💻 Command Output

intermediate

What will this script output?

This script prints two words with different colors. What will be the color of the word Error?

Bash Scripting

echo -e "\e[33mWarning\e[0m and \e[31mError\e[0m"

A Warning is red, Error is yellow

B Warning is yellow, Error is red

C Both words are red

D Both words are yellow

💡 Hint

Check the ANSI codes 33 and 31.

Code 33 sets yellow color, 31 sets red. So 'Warning' is yellow and 'Error' is red.

📝 Syntax

advanced

Which option correctly prints Done in bold blue?

Choose the correct bash command that prints the word Done in bold blue text.

A echo -e "\e[1m\e[34mDone\e[0m"

B echo -e "\e[34;1mDone\e[0m"

C echo -e "\e[1;34mDone\e[0m"

D echo -e "\e[34m\e[1mDone\e[0m"

💡 Hint

The order of codes in the escape sequence matters.

The correct format is \e[1;34m where 1 is bold and 34 is blue. Other orders or separate codes may not work as expected.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Why does this script not color the output?

This script is intended to print Alert in red, but the output is plain text. What is the problem?

Bash Scripting

echo "\e[31mAlert\e[0m"

A The backslashes should be doubled like \\e

B The color code 31 is incorrect for red

C The reset code \e[0m is missing

D The echo command needs the -e option to interpret escape codes

💡 Hint

Try running the command with -e option.

Without -e, echo prints the escape codes as plain text. Adding -e enables interpretation of escape sequences.

🚀 Application

expert

How to print a blinking yellow warning message?

You want to print the word Warning in blinking yellow text using ANSI escape codes in bash. Which command achieves this?

A echo -e "\e[5;33mWarning\e[0m"

B echo -e "\e[33m\e[5mWarning\e[0m"

C echo -e "\e[33;5mWarning\e[0m"

D echo -e "\e[1;33mWarning\e[0m"

💡 Hint

Blinking code is 5, yellow is 33; order matters.

The code \e[5;33m sets blinking (5) and yellow (33) together. Other orders or separate codes may not work consistently.

Practice

1. What does the ANSI escape code \e[31m do in a bash script?

easy

A. Resets all colors and styles

B. Changes the background color to blue

C. Changes the text color to red

D. Makes the text bold

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand ANSI escape code format

   ANSI escape codes start with \e[ and end with m, where numbers define colors or styles.

2. Step 2: Identify code 31

   Code 31 sets the text color to red in terminal output.

3. Final Answer:

   Changes the text color to red -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   \e[31m = red text color [OK]

Hint: 31 means red text color in ANSI codes [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing text color with background color
• Thinking \e[31m resets colors
• Assuming it makes text bold

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to print the word Success in green color using echo in bash?

easy

A. echo "\e[0m32mSuccess\e"

B. echo -e "\e[32mSuccess\e[0m"

C. echo "\e[32mSuccess"

D. echo "\e[32mSuccess\e[32m"

Solution

1. Step 1: Use correct ANSI escape code format

   The code to start green text is \e[32m and to reset colors is \e[0m.

2. Step 2: Check each option's correctness

   echo -e "\e[32mSuccess\e[0m" correctly wraps 'Success' with start and reset codes. Others have syntax errors or missing reset.

3. Final Answer:

   echo -e "\e[32mSuccess\e[0m" -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Start green with \e[32m and reset with \e[0m [OK]

Hint: Always reset color with \e[0m after colored text [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting to reset color after text
• Placing reset code before text
• Using incorrect escape code syntax

3. What will be the output of the following bash command?

echo -e "\e[33mWarning\e[0m: Disk space low"

medium

A. No color, plain text output

B. Entire line in yellow color

C. Syntax error due to missing quotes

D. Warning in yellow color followed by ': Disk space low' in default color

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the escape codes in the command

   \e[33m sets yellow text color, \e[0m resets color back to default after 'Warning'.

2. Step 2: Understand echo -e behavior

   Echo with -e interprets escape sequences, so 'Warning' appears yellow, rest normal.

3. Final Answer:

   Warning in yellow color followed by ': Disk space low' in default color -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   \e[33m colors 'Warning', \e[0m resets color [OK]

Hint: Reset color after colored text to limit color scope [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming entire line is colored
• Ignoring -e flag in echo
• Confusing color codes with styles

4. Identify the error in this bash snippet intended to print Error in red:

echo "\e[31mError\e[0m"

medium

A. Missing -e flag in echo to enable escape sequences

B. Wrong color code for red

C. Reset code \e[0m is incorrect

D. Quotes should be single quotes instead of double

Solution

1. Step 1: Check echo command usage

   By default, echo does not interpret escape sequences without -e flag.

2. Step 2: Confirm color codes and quotes

   Color code 31 for red and reset \e[0m are correct; double quotes allow escape sequences with -e.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing -e flag in echo to enable escape sequences -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Use echo -e to interpret \e codes [OK]

Hint: Use echo -e to enable ANSI escape codes [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting -e flag in echo
• Changing correct color codes
• Using wrong quote types unnecessarily

5. You want to write a bash script that prints Success in green and Error in red on separate lines, then resets color. Which script snippet correctly does this?

hard

A. echo -e "\e[32mSuccess\e[0m"; echo -e "\e[31mError\e[0m"

B. echo "\e[32mSuccess"; echo "\e[31mError"; echo "\e[0m"

C. echo -e "\e[32mSuccess\e[31mError\e[0m"

D. echo "\e[32mSuccess\n\e[31mError\e[0m"

Solution

1. Step 1: Check color codes and reset usage

   Each line uses correct color code (32 for green, 31 for red) and resets color with \e[0m.

2. Step 2: Verify echo usage and line separation

   echo -e "\e[32mSuccess\e[0m"; echo -e "\e[31mError\e[0m" uses separate echo commands with -e flag and resets color after each line, ensuring correct colors and reset.

3. Final Answer:

   echo -e "\e[32mSuccess\e[0m"; echo -e "\e[31mError\e[0m" -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Separate echo with -e and reset color each line [OK]

Hint: Use separate echo -e with reset for each colored line [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Not resetting color after each line
• Using single echo without proper newlines
• Omitting -e flag in echo