Comparing Strings



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Comparing Strings

String comparisons are done using = and !=:

    #!/bin/sh
    if test $# -eq 0
    then
        echo Must provide parameters.
        exit 1
    fi
    
    while test ! $1 = "end"
    do
        echo parameter is $1
        shift
        if test $# -eq 0
        then
            echo Parameter list MUST contain the '"'end'"' string.
            exit
        fi
    done
    echo Done: I"'"ve hit the '"'end'"' string.
    exit 0
Note that the above example could have been MUCH shorter if no error checking took place.

The length of strings can also be tested using:

-z
: check if the string has zero length.
-n
: check if the string has a non-zero length.



Super-User
Fri Feb 17 15:55:40 EST 1995