Insert quote into string variable in bash

Question

Is there way of inserting a quote at the start and end into a string variable?

I have this variable say:

string="desktop/first folder"

If I echo this, it will display:

desktop/first folder

I need the string to be stored as:

"desktop/first folder"

I know the question is about `bash` but for POSIX compatible system where the string must contain both single and double quotes you have to mix between both without spaces in between. For example `string="single quote: ' double quote: "'"'" end of string"`. This works because quoted strings next to each other are considered a single string and you can switch between single and double quote strings within those parts. — Mikko Rantalainen, Jul 10 '22 at 18:04

score 13 · Answer 1 · edited Dec 13 '17 at 11:45

13

In bash you can use \ as an escape character what whatever follows it. In your case, use it like this:

string="\"desktop/first folder\""

edited Dec 13 '17 at 11:45

undo

answered Dec 13 '17 at 10:44

jcbermu

score 7 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 13 '17 at 10:49

7

If you don't do variable substitution, using single quotes as delimiters, so you can use double quotes in your string:

string='"desktop/first folder"'

answered Dec 13 '17 at 10:49

xenoid

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 28 '23 at 19:16

1

In the case one needs to do variable substitution:

string='"'"$folder"'"'

The inner double quotes allow variable expansion, and each of the outer double quote is flanked by single quotes to "keep" them at their place.

answered Aug 28 '23 at 19:16

jorvaor

3 Answers3