Similar to the let command,
the ((...)) construct permits arithmetic
expansion and evaluation. In its simplest form, a=$((
5 + 3 )) would set "a" to "5 +
3", or 8. However, this double parentheses construct is
also a mechanism for allowing C-type manipulation of variables
in Bash.
Example 9-30. C-type manipulation of variables
#!/bin/bash
# Manipulating a variable, C-style, using the ((...)) construct.
echo
(( a = 23 )) # Setting a value, C-style, with spaces on both sides of the "=".
echo "a (initial value) = $a"
(( a++ )) # Post-increment 'a', C-style.
echo "a (after a++) = $a"
(( a-- )) # Post-decrement 'a', C-style.
echo "a (after a--) = $a"
(( ++a )) # Pre-increment 'a', C-style.
echo "a (after ++a) = $a"
(( --a )) # Pre-decrement 'a', C-style.
echo "a (after --a) = $a"
echo
########################################################
# Note that, as in C, pre- and post-decrement operators
#+ have slightly different side-effects.
n=1; let --n && echo "True" || echo "False" # False
n=1; let n-- && echo "True" || echo "False" # True
# Thanks, Jeroen Domburg.
########################################################
echo
(( t = a<45?7:11 )) # C-style trinary operator.
echo "If a < 45, then t = 7, else t = 11."
echo "t = $t " # Yes!
echo
# -----------------
# Easter Egg alert!
# -----------------
# Chet Ramey apparently snuck a bunch of undocumented C-style constructs
#+ into Bash (actually adapted from ksh, pretty much).
# In the Bash docs, Ramey calls ((...)) shell arithmetic,
#+ but it goes far beyond that.
# Sorry, Chet, the secret is now out.
# See also "for" and "while" loops using the ((...)) construct.
# These work only with Bash, version 2.04 or later.
exit 0
