Bash ---- [ and [[ memo

• Tests supported by [ (also known as test):

  • -e FILE: True if file exists.

  • -f FILE: True if file is a regular file.

  • -d FILE: True if file is a directory.

  • -h FILE: True if file is a symbolic link.

  • -p PIPE: True if pipe exists.

  • -r FILE: True if file is readable by you.

  • -s FILE: True if file exists and is not empty.

  • -t FD : True if FD is opened on a terminal.

  • -w FILE: True if the file is writable by you.

  • -x FILE: True if the file is executable by you.

  • -O FILE: True if the file is effectively owned by you.

  • -G FILE: True if the file is effectively owned by your group.

  • FILE -nt FILE: True if the first file is newer than the second.

  • FILE -ot FILE: True if the first file is older than the second.

  • -z STRING: True if the string is empty (it's length is zero).

  • -n STRING: True if the string is not empty (it's length is not zero).

  • STRING = STRING: True if the first string is identical to the second.

  • STRING != STRING: True if the first string is not identical to the second.

  • STRING < STRING: True if the first string sorts before the second.

  • STRING > STRING: True if the first string sorts after the second.

  • EXPR -a EXPR: True if both expressions are true (logical AND).

  • EXPR -o EXPR: True if either expression is true (logical OR).

  • ! EXPR: Inverts the result of the expression (logical NOT).

  • INT -eq INT: True if both integers are identical.

  • INT -ne INT: True if the integers are not identical.

  • INT -lt INT: True if the first integer is less than the second.

  • INT -gt INT: True if the first integer is greater than the second.

  • INT -le INT: True if the first integer is less than or equal to the second.

  • INT -ge INT: True if the first integer is greater than or equal to the second.

• Additional tests supported only by [[:

  • STRING = (or ==) PATTERN: Not string comparison like with [ (or test), but pattern matching is performed. True if the string matches the glob pattern.

  • STRING =~ REGEX: True if the string matches the regex pattern.

  • ( EXPR ): Parantheses can be used to change the evaluation precedence.

  • EXPR && EXPR: Much like the '-a' operator of test, but does not evaluate the second expression if the first already turns out to be false.

  • EXPR || EXPR: Much like the '-o' operator of test, but does not evaluate the second expression if the first already turns out to be true.