[Linux] Bash echo uso: Displaying text in the terminal

Overview

The echo command in Bash is used to display a line of text or a variable value in the terminal. It is one of the most commonly used commands for outputting information, making it essential for scripting and command-line operations.

Usage

The basic syntax of the echo command is as follows:

echo [options] [arguments]

Common Options

• -n: Suppresses the trailing newline, allowing the next output to appear on the same line.
• -e: Enables interpretation of backslash escapes (e.g., \n for a new line, \t for a tab).
• -E: Disables interpretation of backslash escapes (this is the default behavior).

Common Examples

Here are some practical examples of using the echo command:

1. Basic text output:

   echo "Hello, World!"
   

2. Suppressing the newline:

   echo -n "This is on the same line."
   echo " And this continues."
   

3. Using backslash escapes:

   echo -e "First line\nSecond line"
   

4. Displaying the value of a variable:

   name="Alice"
   echo "Hello, $name!"
   

5. Outputting special characters:

   echo -e "Tab character:\tTabbed text"
   

Tips

• Use echo -n when you want to print multiple outputs on the same line without line breaks.
• To include special characters in your output, remember to use the -e option.
• Be cautious when using variables with echo, as unquoted variables can lead to word splitting or globbing issues. Always quote your variables to avoid unexpected behavior.