Bash - Split string into array, preserving spaces

Question

I'm trying to split a string into an array using a delimiter other than space, keeping spaces preserved.

For example, if I run:

files=$(echo "foo.txt:bar.txt:my story.txt" | tr ":" "\n")
for f in $files; do
    echo $f
done

I get:

foo.txt
bar.txt
my
story.txt

How can I preserve the spaces?

I believe that the spaces are preserved in the above code. Test it again. — Venkatesh Marepalli
– Venkatesh Marepalli, Commented Jan 4, 2018 at 23:04
@VenkateshMarepalli It split my story.txt into my and story.txt — Barmar
– Barmar, Commented Jan 4, 2018 at 23:07
@VenkateshMarepalli, why would you expect spaces to be preserved? The unquoted expansion is subject to string splitting. See the output from ideone's online interpreter at ideone.com/kTj9A7 — Charles Duffy
– Charles Duffy, Commented Jan 4, 2018 at 23:10

PesaThe · Accepted Answer · 2018-01-04 23:07:17Z

7

files=$(cmd) is not an array assignment. It's a string assignment (the output of cmd is assigned to a regular variable files).

I would recommend using read -a to split the string as globs won't be an issue:

IFS=: read -ra files <<< "foo.txt:bar.txt:my story.txt"

for f in "${files[@]}"; do
    echo "$f"
done

answered Jan 4, 2018 at 23:07

PesaThe

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Comments

Barmar · Accepted Answer · 2018-01-04 23:09:54Z

2

Use IFS to specify the field separator:

IFS=: files=($(echo "foo.txt:bar.txt:my story.txt"))
for f in "${files[@]}"; do
    echo "$f"
done

You also need to put parentheses around the value to make an array. You just set $files to a string where the : were replaced with newline. When you then expand $files, word splitting uses any form of whitespace, so spaces and newlines are field separators.

edited Jan 4, 2018 at 23:09

answered Jan 4, 2018 at 23:06

Barmar

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3 Comments

Charles Duffy Over a year ago

Need to disable globbing for this to be safe.

PesaThe Over a year ago

Also note that IFS will be changed.

Rafał Wrzeszcz Over a year ago

It will not be changed. It's specified as a variable only for a specific command execution. You can try it out: IFS=: files=($(echo "foo.txt:bar.txt:my story.txt")); echo ${IFS}; echo ${files[2]} To me this is a very good answer.

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