Bash – how to check if a variable is set

To check if a variable is set or empty, we can use couple of approaches. One approach is to use empty string check (if [ -z $string]) . This approach is little inaccurate but will work in most cases. Better approach is to use parameter substitution (${var+val}) and then empty string check (if [ -z $string]).

Parameter substitution using ${var+val}

If variable var is set then use val otherwise null.

#!/bin/bash
var=somethings
echo ${var+val}

val

Bash code – check if a variable is set

Here empty string will be considered as set.

#!/bin/bash
if [ -z ${var+x} ]; then
  echo "variable var is not set"
else
  echo "variable var is set"
fi

var=""
if [ -z ${var+x} ]; then
  echo "variable var is not set"
else
  echo "variable var is set"
fi

variable var is not set
variable var is set