Variables hold values in a script: names, paths, counts. In Bash you assign with name=value and there must be no spaces around the =; name = value would try to run a command called name. You use the value with $name, or ${name} when the name is followed by other characters, as in ${file}.bak. Variable names are case-sensitive, and by convention scripts use lowercase for their own variables and leave uppercase for environment variables such as PATH and HOME.
Free account
Keep reading for free
Create a free StudyToCert account to read the rest of this lesson: 6 more sections, 5 key terms, a real-world example, an exam tip and self-check questions. Every lesson, lab and practice test is free with an account.