Created SC2271 (markdown)

Vidar Holen
2020-12-30 19:41:02 -08:00
parent ab7c6cfa61
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## For indirection, use arrays, `declare "var$n=value"`, or (for sh) read/eval
### Problematic code:
```sh
n=1
var$n="hello"
```
### Correct code:
For integer indexing in ksh/bash, consider using an indexed array:
```sh
n=1
var[n]="hello"
echo "${var[n]}"
```
For string indexing in ksh/bash, use an associative array:
```sh
typeset -A var
n="greeting"
var[$n]="hello"
echo "${var[$n]}"
```
If you actually need a variable with the constructed name in bash, use `declare`:
```sh
n="Foo"
declare "var$n=42"
echo "$varFoo"
```
For `sh`, with single line contents, consider `read`:
```sh
n="Foo"
read -r "var$n" << EOF
hello
EOF
echo "$varFoo"
```
or with careful escaping, `eval`:
```sh
n=Foo
eval "var$n='hello'"
echo "$varFoo"
```
### Rationale:
`var$n=value` is not a valid way of assigning to a dynamically created variable name in any shell. Please use one of the other methods to assign to names via expanded strings. [Wooledge BashFaq #6](https://mywiki.wooledge.org/BashFAQ/006) has significantly more information on the subject.
### Exceptions:
None
### Related resources:
* [Wooledge BashFaq #6](https://mywiki.wooledge.org/BashFAQ/006): How can I use variable variables (indirect variables, pointers, references) or associative arrays?