create an array

Question

I want to learn about arrays and how to assign values to them, so I found this tutorial

While running the following script:

#!/bin/bash
$names=([0]="Bob" [1]="Peter" [20]="$USER" [21]="Big Bad John")
echo ${names[@]}

I get this error:

line 2: syntax error near unexpected token `[0]="Bob"'
line 2: `$names=([0]="Bob" [1]="Peter" [20]="$USER" [21]="Big Bad John")'

What am I doing wrong?

@Skaperen you mean it does not put $USER on the 20th position? — Tanatos Daniel, Apr 5 at 11:36

choroba · Accepted Answer · 2015-04-05 10:47:01Z

up vote 3 down vote accepted

When assigning to a variable, don't use the dollar sign:

names=([0]="Bob" [1]="Peter" [20]="$USER" [21]="Big Bad John")

answered Apr 5 at 10:47

choroba
8,9911529

if you really wanted to use the dollar sign read up on eval – Skaperen Apr 5 at 11:14

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