read Input in Bash

From the Bash Scripting cheat sheet · Input & Output · verified Jul 2026

Prompt for and parse user input.

bash

# Quick Reference
read -r -p "Name: " name
read -rsp "Password: " pass    # -s hides input
read -ra parts <<< "a b c"     # split into an array

💡 Always use read -r - without it, backslashes in input are silently eaten.

⚡ -p prints a prompt, -s hides typed input (passwords), -t sets a timeout.

📌 read -ra arr <<< "$str" splits a string into an array on whitespace.

🟢 read returns non-zero on EOF/timeout - chain with || for a fallback value.

inputread

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