store ls output in variable array(bash)

Question

I want to store the each output of ls command in the variable array. I have already tried at arbitrary directory: var=$(ls);echo $var It is storing the whole file names under the directory to the variable.

I also tried other methods but it is storing each word as variable element in the array.

Is there any method to store the name of each file in a directory at different indexes of an array?

Etan Reisner · Accepted Answer · 2015-06-23 00:28:18Z

2

Yes, don't use ls.

Use a glob.

var=(*)
printf '[%q]\n' "${var[@]}"

%q is a bash-ism (as far as I know). %s would work about equallywell there except for with some odder file names.

From the Bash Reference Manual:

%q

Causes printf to output the corresponding argument in a format that can be reused as shell input.

edited Jun 23, 2015 at 0:28

answered Jun 22, 2015 at 17:25

Etan Reisner

81.7k8 gold badges120 silver badges154 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

4 Comments

David C. Rankin Over a year ago

Now you did it -- where is the q conversion specifier documented? I can find the q (quad) length modifier, but not the conversion specifier?

Etan Reisner Over a year ago

@DavidC.Rankin Bash-ism as far as I know, I probably should have mentioned that. It is in the man page and bashref.

alvits Over a year ago

I totally agree not to use ls. However, for the benefit of the OP and other readers with similar question, it's worth mentioning that var=($(ls)) will work. And maybe a little explanation regarding the syntax var=( list of values ).

Etan Reisner Over a year ago

@alvits Except it doesn't work if any of the files contain any spaces or shell metacharacters in their names and so it really just shouldn't be done (especially not when a glob works). Talking about the var=(...) syntax could be reasonable but I'm not sure that's usefully relevant here (the OP knows it works, etc.).

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

store ls output in variable array(bash)

1 Answer 1

4 Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

4 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related