Bash: Call script with an array of arguments

Question

Given a bash array, I'd like to call another script with that array as an argument. I expected that the ${X[@]} would do what I want, but that string concats the args, rather than passing args separately. For example:

X=()
X+='a'
X+='b'
./p.sh ${X[@]}

Calls p.sh with 1 arg whose value is 'ab'. I want to call p.sh with 2 args, the first being 'a' the second being 'b'.

You add array elements with X+=('a')

123
– 123

2017-05-16 20:58:46 +00:00
Commented May 16, 2017 at 20:58 — 123
– 123, Commented May 16, 2017 at 20:58

chepner · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-16 21:07:36Z

1

A echo ${X[0]} outputs ab which shows your += appends to the first element. (The command echo ${#X[@]} outputs a 1 as well.) Use

X=()
X+=('a')
X+=('b')
./p.sh "${X[@]}"

edited May 16, 2017 at 21:07

chepner

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answered May 16, 2017 at 21:02

RTLinuxSW

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1 Comment

RTLinuxSW Over a year ago

Thanks @chepner for the double quotes. It is a more correct answer.

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