Nested function in Bash: why does return stop parent function?

Question

function test_ok {
  echo "function without error" || { echo "[Error] text"; return 1; }
  echo "this is executed"
}
function test_nok {
  echo "function with error"
  cause-an-error || { echo "[Error] text"; return 1; }
  echo "this is not executed"
  echo "this is not executed"
}
test_ok ; echo "$?"
test_nok ; echo "$?"

I would expect that the return 1 in function test_nok only exits the nested function { echo "[Error] text"; return 1; } and the following two echo commands are executed as they belong to the parent function test_nok.

But that's not true, echo "this is not executed" really is not executed and the exit code of test_nok is 1. This is the behavior I need, but I do not understand why it works that way => why is echo "this is not executed" not executed?

There's no nested function here. { }isn't a function, it just groups commands. — Gordon Davisson
– Gordon Davisson, Commented Jan 22, 2019 at 7:19
Thank you Gordon Davisson, that answers my question. But I think I cannot mark a comment as the solution, right? — Der Optimist
– Der Optimist, Commented Jan 22, 2019 at 7:31
If you only want to return from the "nested function" then use a subshell (...) instead of a group {...}. — Socowi
– Socowi, Commented Jan 22, 2019 at 7:38

Der Optimist · Accepted Answer · 2019-01-22 07:49:12Z

1

Gordon Davisson answered my question in a comment:

There's no nested function here. { } isn't a function, it just groups commands.

answered Jan 22, 2019 at 7:49

Der Optimist

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1 Comment

Der Optimist Over a year ago

That was my intention, but I get the message "You can accept your own answer in 2 days". So I will accept it in 2 days or Gordon Davisson could write an answer that I can accept

builder-7000 · Accepted Answer · 2019-01-22 07:28:52Z

0

You could save the error code in a variable and return it at the end of the function (though this may not a good idea. i'd recommend to return when the error occurs) :

function test_nok {
    echo "function with error"
    cause-an-error || { error_code=$?; echo "[Error] text"; }
    echo "this is not executed"
    echo "this is not executed"
    return $error_code
}
test_nok
echo $?

Output:

function with error
./test.sh: line 5: cause-an-error: command not found
[Error] text
this is not executed
this is not executed
127

edited Jan 22, 2019 at 7:28

answered Jan 22, 2019 at 7:24

builder-7000

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3 Comments

Der Optimist Over a year ago

Thank you. My posted code works like I need it, I just didn't understand why. But I think Gordon Davisson just answered my question => {} is not a function

builder-7000 Over a year ago

Good, and regarding your question why is echo "this is not executed" not executed? you may want to read more about the { ...; } command in bash documentation: section of group command

Der Optimist Over a year ago

Thank you Sergio, that's just what I did the last few minutes :-)

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