Bash Functions

A Bash function is a reusable block of commands that can be called multiple times within a script. Functions help you make your Bash scripts more readable, easier to maintain, and less repetitive.

While Bash functions are more limited than those in other programming languages, they are still very powerful for shell scripting.

In this guide, we will cover the basics of Bash functions and show you how to use them in your shell scripts. If you’re new to Bash, consider reviewing the basic Linux commands first.

Defining Bash Functions #

There are two different ways to define a function in Bash.

1. Preferred Syntax (Most Common) The first format starts with the function name, followed by parentheses. This is the preferred and most-used syntax.

   sh

   function_name () {
     commands
   }

   Single line version:

   sh

   function_name () { commands; }

2. Using the function Keyword The second format starts with the reserved word function, followed by the function name.

   sh

   function function_name {
     commands
   }

   Single line version:

   sh

   function function_name { commands; }

Important points to note:

• The commands inside the curly braces ({}) make up the function body.
• The opening and closing braces must be separated from the body by spaces or newlines.
• A function runs only when explicitly called by name.
• The function must be defined before it is called.
• When using single-line “compacted” functions, a semicolon ; is required after the last command.
• Use descriptive function names whenever possible.

Example: Hello World Function #

To understand this better, take a look at the following example:

#!/bin/bash

hello_world () {
   echo 'Hello, World.'
}

hello_world

Let’s analyze the code line by line:

• In line 3, we are defining the function by giving it a name. The curly brace { marks the start of the function’s body.
• Line 4 is the function body. The function body can contain multiple commands, statements, and variable declarations.
• Line 5, the closing curly bracket }, defines the end of the hello_world function.
• In line 7, we are executing the function. You can execute the function as many times as you need.

Running the script prints:

Hello, World.

You can call the function as many times as needed within the script.

Variable Scope in Bash Functions #

Knowing how variable scope works helps you write scripts that are safe and predictable.

Global Variables #

• Global variables are variables that can be accessed and modified anywhere in the script, including inside functions.
• By default, all variables are defined as global, even if declared inside the function.

Local Variables #

• Local variables are declared with the local keyword.
• Local variables can be declared only inside the function and can be used only inside that function.
• You can have local variables with the same name in different functions.
• Local variables override global variables with the same name within the function.

Example: Variable Scope #

To better illustrate how variable scope works in Bash, let’s consider this example:

#!/bin/bash

var1='A'
var2='B'

my_function () {
  local var1='C'
  var2='D'
  echo "Inside function: var1: $var1, var2: $var2"
}

echo "Before executing function: var1: $var1, var2: $var2"

my_function

echo "After executing function: var1: $var1, var2: $var2"

The script starts by defining two global variables var1 and var2. Then there is a function that sets a local variable var1 and modifies the global variable var2.

If you run the script, you should see the following output:

Before executing function: var1: A, var2: B
Inside function: var1: C, var2: D
After executing function: var1: A, var2: D

From the output above, we can conclude that:

• When a local variable is defined within a function with the same name as an existing global variable, the local variable takes precedence.
• Global variables can be changed from within the function.

Return Values in Bash Functions #

Unlike functions in “real” programming languages, Bash functions do not return values when called.

When a bash function completes, its return value is the status of the last statement executed in the function:

• 0 for success.
• Any non-zero value in the (1 - 255) range for failure.

The return status can be specified using the return keyword, and it is assigned to the variable $?. The return statement terminates the function. You can think of it as the function’s exit status .

#!/bin/bash

my_function () {
  echo "some result"
  return 55
}

my_function
echo $?

some result
55

Returning Data from a Bash Function #

Since Bash cannot return arbitrary values directly, we need to use other methods. There are two common workarounds.

1. Using a Global Variable:

   The simplest option is to assign the result of the function to a global variable:

   ~/return_values.shsh

   #!/bin/bash
   
   my_function () {
     func_result="some result"
   }
   
   my_function
   echo $func_result

   output

   some result

2. Using Standard Output (Recommended)

   Another option is to send the value to stdout using echo or printf . This approach is cleaner and avoids unnecessary global variables:

   ~/return_values.shsh

   #!/bin/bash
   
   my_function () {
     local func_result="some result"
     echo "$func_result"
   }
   
   func_result="$(my_function)"
   echo $func_result

   output

   some result

   Instead of simply executing the function, which prints the message to stdout, we assign the function’s output to the func_result variable using the $() command substitution. The variable can later be used as needed.

Passing Arguments to Functions #

Arguments are passed to a function by placing them after the function name, separated by a space. It is a good practice to double-quote the arguments to avoid the misparsing of an argument with spaces in it.

function_name arg1 arg2 arg3

Special Variables

• Positional parameters $1, $2, $3 … $n, correspond to the position of the parameter after the function’s name.
• The $0 variable is reserved for the function’s name.
• The $# variable holds the number of positional parameters/arguments passed to the function.
• The $* and $@ variables hold all positional parameters/arguments passed to the function.
  • When double-quoted, "$*" expands to a single string separated by space (the first character of IFS) - "$1 $2 $n".
  • When double-quoted, "$@" expands to separate strings - "$1" "$2" "$n".
  • When not double-quoted, $* and $@ are the same.

Here is an example:

#!/bin/bash

greeting () {
  echo "Hello $1"
}

greeting "Zoe"

Hello Zoe

Bash Function Best Practices #

• Choose function names that clearly describe what the function does.
• Declare variables as local inside functions to avoid unexpected behavior.
• Return the data via standard output rather than relying on global variables.
• Be sure to quote variables, such as “$var”.
• Write functions that are short and handle only one specific task.
• Put your function definitions at the top of your scripts.
• Turn on set -euo pipefail when writing scripts for production.
• Add comments to explain any complex logic inside your functions.

Conclusion #

A Bash function is a block of reusable code designed to perform a particular operation. Once defined, the function can be called multiple times within a script.

Functions are especially useful for repeating tasks, simplifying complex scripts, and creating readable and modular code.

You can also read about how to use a Bash function to create a memorable shortcut command (alias) for a longer command. For more details on executing scripts, see our guide on how to run a bash script .

If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to leave a comment.