Is it possible to send output to a variable in bash?

Question

I have result of simple command:

   cp -R SourceDir DestDir >out.txt
   result="out.txt"

But if script haven't access to write, how I can get output in variable result?

Oliver Charlesworth · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-08 22:33:15Z

8

You can just do this:

result=$(cp -R SourceDir DestDir)

You can also use this form:

result=`cp -R SourceDir DestDir`

but this is less preferable for several reasons (see http://mywiki.wooledge.org/BashFAQ/082).

answered Nov 8, 2011 at 22:24

274k34 gold badges591 silver badges687 bronze badges

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

Comments

amit_g · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-08 22:25:25Z

2

result=$(cp -R SourceDir DestDir)
echo $result

answered Nov 8, 2011 at 22:25

amit_g

31.3k8 gold badges67 silver badges124 bronze badges

misberner · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-08 22:24:29Z

1

By using backticks (`):

OUTPUT=`cp -R SourceDir DestDir`

Or did I get you wrong?

answered Nov 8, 2011 at 22:24

misberner

3,70823 silver badges19 bronze badges

In general, $(...) should be preferred to backticks; see mywiki.wooledge.org/BashFAQ/082.