Why does find result in an empty new line within backticks?

Question

For some reason, resolving a variable name within backticks and double quotes causes an empty new line.

search="randomsite";
res="`find /var/www -maxdepth 2 -mindepth 2 -type d -name '${search}'`";
echo $res

Mark Setchell · Accepted Answer · 2014-03-06 09:33:51Z

2

Use $() rather than backticks - they are easier to read and nestable...

res=$(find /var/www -maxdepth 2 -mindepth 2 -type d -name "${search}")

answered Mar 6, 2014 at 9:33

Mark Setchell

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4 Comments

Waffles Over a year ago

Thanks for the answer. I was looking to know why my example didn't work though.

Mark Setchell Over a year ago

Yours doesn't work because you have put ${search} inside single quotes thereby preventing the shell from expanding the variable $search.

Mark Setchell Over a year ago

Try running find -name "${search}" at your shell prompt and that will work, whereas find -name '${search}' will not.

Mark Setchell Over a year ago

If this has solved your problem and answered your question, please accept my answer so I get a lovely big green tick. Else, please say what is still not correct, and I, or someone else, will try and assist you further. Thank you.

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