Comparing two string variables in bash

Question

This block of code keeps echoing "they are equal" Why?

#!/bin/bash

foo="hello"
bar="h"
if [[ "$foo"=="$bar" ]]; then
        echo "they are equal"
else
        echo "they are not equal"
fi

the operators will always need spaces around them, but also note fwiw that the [[...]] works differently than the [...] ; one difference is that you actually don't need the quotes ("...") with the double [[...]] see tldp.org/LDP/abs/html/comparison-ops.html and tldp.org/LDP/abs/html/testconstructs.html#DBLBRACKETS — michael
– michael, Commented Jun 9, 2022 at 2:24
@michael That's not entirely true; if the string on the right side of a [[ == ]] test isn't quoted, it's treated as a glob (wildcard) pattern, which can cause weird problems. IMO it's much easier and safer to just always double-quote variable references (unless there's a specific reason not to, like if you want it treated as a glob pattern) than it is to try to remember all the weird exception cases like this. — Gordon Davisson
– Gordon Davisson, Commented Jun 9, 2022 at 2:28
@GordonDavisson very true, I always quote as well, better safe than sorry. Main point being that [[...]] is different than [...], and I should have just mentioned eg the differing operators available, but also quoting has "different" rules. — michael
– michael, Commented Jun 9, 2022 at 19:48
ps: for those following along, here's the exact issue when NOT using quotes: bar="hello"; foo="h*"; [[ $bar == $foo ]] && echo equal || echo nope prints "equal", for better or worse, but [[ "$bar" == "$foo" ]] && echo equal || echo nope prints nope — michael
– michael, Commented Jun 9, 2022 at 19:50

paxdiablo · Accepted Answer · 2022-06-09 02:08:10Z

3

The condition works based on the number of elements within it, and this particular issue is covered by this (paraphrased) part of the man-page:

string: True if the length of string is non-zero.

string1 == string2: True if the strings are equal.

In other words, a comparison needs three elements, meaning you need a space on either side of the ==.

Without that it's simply the one-element variant of the condition, which is true when the string is non-empty, as hello==h most definitely is.

answered Jun 9, 2022 at 2:02

paxdiablo

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