how to read an array of strings in bash

Question

I am a new bash learner. I want to know, how to take a list of string from standard input? After taking all of the strings, I want to print them space separated.

Say the input is like the following:

Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands
NewZealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
NorthKorea
Norway

The output should be like:

Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands NewZealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria NorthKorea Norway

I just can read a variable in bash and then can print it like the following:

read a
echo "$a"

Please, note that :

This question does not answer my question. it is mainly on traversing a declared array. but my case is handling the input and appending the array in runtime as well as detecting the EOF

The question you referred is mainly on traversing a declared array. but my case is handling the input and appending the array in runtime as well as detecting the EOF @Identity1 — Enamul Hassan
– Enamul Hassan, Commented Jun 30, 2015 at 8:14

Tom Fenech · Accepted Answer · 2015-06-30 08:13:19Z

5

You can use read in a loop with a bash array:

countries=()
while read -r country; do
    countries+=( "$country" )
done
echo "${countries[@]}"

If used interactively, Ctrl-d terminates the loop, otherwise it will terminate once read fails (e.g. at EOF). Each country is printed on the same line.

answered Jun 30, 2015 at 8:13

Tom Fenech

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Comments

user3673660 · Accepted Answer · 2016-04-07 20:18:39Z

1

Assuming your list is a file (you can always save to a file):

my_array=( $(<filename) )
echo ${my_array[@]}

From standard input:

while :
do
read -p "Enter something: " country
my_array+="country"
done

edited Apr 7, 2016 at 20:18

answered Apr 7, 2016 at 20:12

user3673660

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