Get the output and return value from another bash function

Question

In function_two, I need to get both the output from echo and the return value from function_one

#!/bin/bash
function_one() {
    echo "okay then"
    return 2
}
function_two() {
    local a_function="function_one"
    local string=`${a_function}`
    echo $string # echos "okay then"
    echo "$?" #echos 0 - how do we get the returned value of 2?
}
function_two

When trying echo "$?" I get 0 instead of 2

Update

As Ipor Sircer pointed out, $? above is giving the exit code of the previous command echo $string

So instead I grab the exit code immediately after. And as choroba mentioned, the localization and assignment of the variable needed to be separated.

Here is the working script:

#!/bin/bash
function_one() {
    echo "okay then"
    return 2
}
function_two() {
    local a_function="function_one"
    local string
    string=`${a_function}`
    local exitcode=$?
    echo "string: $string" # okay then
    echo "exitcode: $exitcode" # 2
}
function_two

the echo $string command has run successfully, so the exitcode is 0. — Ipor Sircer
– Ipor Sircer, Commented Jan 16, 2017 at 22:25

choroba · Accepted Answer · 2017-01-16 22:33:42Z

6

0 is the exit status of the last command executed, i.e. echo $string.

If you need to use the exit status later, store it in a variable:

local string
string=`${a_function}`
local status=$?
echo "Output: $string"
echo "Status: $status"

You also need to separate the assignment and localization of the variable to not get the status of local instead.

edited Jan 16, 2017 at 22:33

answered Jan 16, 2017 at 22:24

choroba

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2 Comments

user7347805 Over a year ago

Status is still 0 instead of 2. Losing the status from function_one since it's executed in a sub process with backtick

choroba Over a year ago

@asdfqwerzxcv: No, it's because you're getting the status of local. See the updated answer.

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