Bash Functions

Defining Functions

To define a function in Bash, use the following syntax. The function name is followed by parentheses, and the function body is enclosed in curly braces:

my_function() {
  echo "Hello, World!"
}

It's a good practice to use descriptive names for functions.

Calling Functions

In Bash, execute (or call) a function by using its name.

Functions can be called multiple times, which helps in reusing code:

my_function

Advanced Function Features

Functions can accept arguments, return values, and use local variables. Here's an example of a function that takes an argument and uses a local variable:

greet() {
  local name=$1
  echo "Hello, $name!"
}
greet "Alice"

You can also return values from functions using echo or the return statement:

add() {
  local sum=$(($1 + $2))
  echo $sum
}
result=$(add 5 3)
echo "The sum is $result"