Bash Shell Script Function Examples


How do I create a shell script function using Bash under UNIX / Linux operating systems?

Functions are nothing but small subroutines or subscripts within a Bash shell script. You need touse to break up a complex script into separate tasks. This improves overall script readability and ease of use. However, shell function cannot return value. They return a status code.

Declare Shell Function

All functions must be declared before they can be used. The syntax is:

function name(){


 return $TRUE

You can call function by typing its name:



Create a shell script called

# a sample shell script to demonstrate the concept of Bash shell functions
# define usage function
	echo "Usage: $0 filename"
	exit 1
# define is_file_exits function 
# $f -> store argument passed to the script
	local f="$1"
	[[ -f "$f" ]] && return 0 || return 1
# invoke  usage
# call usage() function if filename not supplied
[[ $# -eq 0 ]] && usage
# Invoke is_file_exits
if ( is_file_exits "$1" )
 echo "File found"
 echo "File not found"

Run it as follows:
chmod +x
./ /etc/resolv.conf

Task: Export functions

You need to use export command:

  echo "Foo"
export -f fname

Task: Make readonly functions

You create functions at the top of the script and set the readonly attribute with the readonly command:

  echo "Foo"
  echo "Usage: $0 foo bar"
  exit 1
readonly -f usage
readonly -f fname

Task: Local variables functions

Use the local command to create local variables:

# gloabal x and y
  # local variable x and y with passed args	
  local x=$1
  local y=$2
  echo $(( $x + $y ))
echo "x: $x and y: $y"
# call function 
echo "Calling math() with x: $x and y: $y"
math 5 10
# x and y are not modified by math()
echo "x: $x and y: $y after calling math()"
echo $(( $x + $y ))

Task: Recursion

A recursive function call itself. Recursion is a useful technique for simplifying some complex algorithms, and breaking down complex problems.

  # do something
  # if not false call foo
# call foo

See Recursive function for more details.

Recommend readings:

Posted by: Vivek Gite


9 comment

  1. fun1(){ x=100000;  echo " In fun() x = $x " ; }
    fun2(){ y=200000;  echo " In fun() y = $y " ; }
    x=100 ; y=200
    echo "before calling d fun1() x=$x" 
    echo -e $(fun1)
    echo " after calling d fun1() x=$x"
    echo "before calling d fun2() y=$y" 
    echo " after calling d fun() y=$y"

    output :

    before calling d fun1() x=100
    In fun() x = 100000
     after calling d fun1() x=100
    before calling d fun2() y=200
     In fun() y = 200000
     after calling d fun() y=200000

    I m a beginner in Shell programing…., anybody can explain me what is the diff. b/w calling a function as $(fun) or fun….., why the value of x is not changed n value of is changed… what is diff. b/w both invocation.

  2. @shweta

    $(command) – causes the command to be run in a subshell (child process of the parent) and any changes made in the subshell do not affect the parent execution context. See the section COMMAND EXECUTION ENVIRONMENT in the bash manpage.

    x=1; echo “before x=$x”; echo “$x” | while read x; do echo “during x=$x”; ((x++)); echo “during x=$x”; done; echo “after x=$x”
    before x=1
    during x=1
    during x=2
    after x=1

    x=1; echo “before x=$x”; ( x=2; echo “during x=$x”; ); echo “after x=$x”
    before x=1
    during x=2
    after x=1

  3. BTW,

    commands should be defined (as per `help function’) using one of the following syntaxes

    function funcname { … }
    funcname() { … }

    definitely not
    function funcname() { … }

  4. Hi,

    Thanks sir, this is explicated in detail and simply, you learn me function with bash :)

    Have a good time

  5. Hello, i seem to be having this issue whenever i try to do bash on centos. I don’t know why as my bash is /bin/bash and ive tried it on many new installs in this code… i used the code from this section: Task: Local variables functions.

    [root@SERVER01 /]# sh
    :command not found
    ` line 6: syntax error near expected token `{
    ` line 6: `math(){

    Its really annoying.. i always get :command not found with any new lines… and functions always create an error aswell… why is this?


  6. how can I pass the argument to the loop? I have the following code:

          rm $HOME/.netrc
          echo "machine server login password password" >$HOME/.netrc      
          echo "macdef Ka" >>$HOME/.netrc
          echo "prompt" >>$HOME/.netrc
          for yyyy in {$1..$2}
          for mm in {$3..$4}
          for day in {$5..$6}
          echo "cd /gpmdata/$yyyy/$mm/$day/radar" >> $HOME/.netrc
          echo "bye" >> $HOME/.netrc
          echo "" >> $HOME/.netrc
          chmod 600 $HOME/.netrc
          echo '$a' | ftp  #I don't know if this line is correct
    GPM_download $1 $2 $3 $4 $5 $6 $7
    exit 1

    then I execute

    ./ 2014 2014 05 05 27 27 Ka
    but the created file .netrc looks like this

    "cd /gpmdata/{2014..2014}/{05..05}/{27..27}/radar"

    not as I wish “cd /gpmdata/20140527/radar”

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