tldr/pages/common/read.md

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read

BASH builtin for retrieving data from standard input.

  • Store data that you type from the keyboard:

read {{variable}}

  • Store each of the next lines you enter as values of an array:

read -a {{array}}

  • Specify the number of maximum characters to be read:

read -n {{character_count}} {{variable}}

  • Use a specific character as a delimiter instead of a new line:

read -d {{new_delimiter}} {{variable}}

  • Do not let backslash () act as an escape character:

read -r {{variable}}

  • Display a prompt before the input:

read -p "{{Enter your input here: }}" {{variable}}

  • Do not echo typed characters (silent mode):

read -s {{variable}}

  • Read stdin and perform an action on every line:

while read line; do echo "$line"; done