eval - Unix, Linux Command



NAME

eval - Eval is a built in linux or unix command.

SYNOPSIS

eval [arg ..]

DESCRIPTION

eval is a built in linux or unix command. The eval command is used to execute the arguments as a shell command on unix or linux system. Eval command comes in handy when you have a unix or linux command stored in a variable and you want to execute that command stored in the string. The eval command first evaluates the argument and then runs the command stored in the argument.

 

EXAMPLES

Example-1:

To execute that command stored in the string:

$ COMMAND="ls -lrt"

$ eval $COMMAND

output:

total 16
-rw-rw-r-- 1 user group 11  Oct  4 01:06 sample.sh
-rw-rw-r-- 1 user group 0 Oct 4 01:06 test.bat -rw-rw-r-- 1 user group 0 Oct 4 01:06 xyz_ip

Example-2:

To print the value of variable which is again variable with value assigned to it

$ a=10

$ b=a

$ c='$'$b ( note: The dollar sign must be escaped with '$')

$ echo $c

output:

$a

$ eval c='$'$b

$ echo $c

output:

10

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