[FIXED] What is the proper way to test a Bash function's return value?

Issue

I would like to test a Bash function's return value in an if statement like this:

if [[ func arg ]] ; then …

But I get error messages like: conditional binary operator expected.

What is the right way to do this?

Is it the following?

 if [[ $(func arg) ]] ; then ...

Solution

If it was the exit code and not the result, you could just use

if func arg; then ...

If you cannot make the function return a proper exit code (with return N), and you have to use string results, use Alex Gitelman's answer.

$ help if:

if: if COMMANDS; then COMMANDS; [ elif COMMANDS; then COMMANDS; ]… [ else COMMANDS; ] fi

Execute commands based on conditional.

The if COMMANDS list is executed. If its exit status is zero, then the then COMMANDS list is executed. Otherwise, each elif COMMANDS list is executed in turn, and if its exit status is zero, the corresponding then COMMANDS list is executed and the if command completes. Otherwise, the else COMMANDS list is executed, if present. The exit status of the entire construct is the exit status of the last command executed, or zero if no condition tested true.

Exit Status:
Returns the status of the last command executed.

Answered By - kay

Answer Checked By - Timothy Miller (PHPFixing Admin)