bash · 2021-02-17

Bash Special Variables

Some of the most useful bash special variables.

$0 is the name of the shell or shell script.
$1, $2, $3, ... are the positional parameters.
$@ is an array-like construct of all positional parameters, {$1, $2, $3 ...}.
$* is the IFS expansion of all positional parameters, $1 $2 $3 ....
$# is the number of positional parameters.
$= current options set for the shell.
$$ pid of the current shell (not subshell).
$_ most recent parameter (or the abs path of the command to start the current shell immediately after startup).
$IFS is the (input) field separator.
$? is the most recent foreground pipeline exit status.
$! is the PID of the most recent background command.