Bash Tutorial for Beginners and Pros | Learn Bash Scripting Step-by-Step 2026

Introduction to Bash

What is Bash?

Bash stands for Bourne Again SHell. It is a command-line interpreter that allows users to interact directly with the operating system. Think of it as a text-based way to tell your computer what to do — no clicking, just typing.

Why Use Bash?

It’s fast, efficient, and perfect for automation. Whether you’re managing servers, writing scripts, or just exploring Linux, Bash is your go-to companion.

Who Uses Bash?

Everyone from beginners tinkering on their Raspberry Pi to DevOps engineers managing complex cloud systems.

Getting Started with Bash

Installing Bash

Most Linux and macOS systems already come with Bash. On Windows, you can interact with Unix-like environments using Git Bash or the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).

Launching the Bash Shell

Just open your terminal. On Linux/Mac, type bash and press Enter.

Your First Bash Command

Type:

echo "Hello, world!"

Boom. You’ve just run your first Bash command.

Basic Bash Commands

Navigation Commands

pwd, cd, and ls

• pwd – shows the current directory.
• cd foldername – moves to a folder.
• ls – lists files in the current directory.

File Operations

touch, cp, mv, and rm

• touch file.txt – creates a file.
• cp file.txt copy.txt – copies a file.
• mv file.txt newname.txt – renames or moves.
• rm file.txt – deletes a file.

Viewing File Contents

cat, less, more, head, tail

• cat file.txt – prints content.
• less/more – view file page by page.
• head -n 5 – first 5 lines.
• tail -n 5 – last 5 lines.

Bash Scripting Basics

Writing Your First Bash Script

Create a file:

nano myscript.sh

Add:

#!/bin/bash
echo "This is a script!"

Making Scripts Executable

chmod +x myscript.sh

Script Structure and Comments

Use # for comments. Always start with #!/bin/bash at the top.

Variables and Data Types

Defining and Using Variables

name="John"
echo "Hi, $name"

Environment Variables

Check with env or printenv.

Quoting Variables

Always quote strings:

echo "$name"

Conditional Statements

if, elif, else

if [ $age -gt 18 ]; then
  echo "Adult"
else
  echo "Minor"
fi

case Statements

case $fruit in
  apple) echo "Apple selected";;
  *) echo "Unknown fruit";;
esac

Loops in Bash

for, while, until Loops

for i in {1..5}; do
  echo $i
done

Loop Control: break and continue

Exit early with break, skip iterations with continue.

Functions in Bash

Defining and Calling Functions

say_hello() {
  echo "Hello!"
}
say_hello

Function Arguments

greet() {
  echo "Hello, $1"
}
greet "Alice"

Input and Output

Reading User Input

read -p "Enter name: " username
echo "Welcome $username"

Redirecting Input and Output

• > overwrites
• >> appends
• < input redirection

Pipes and Filters

cat file.txt | grep "search"

Error Handling in Bash

Exit Status

Every command returns a code. 0 is success, anything else is an error.

Using trap for Cleanup

trap "echo 'Script interrupted'; exit" SIGINT

Working with Arrays

Declaring Arrays

fruits=("apple" "banana" "cherry")

Accessing and Iterating Arrays

echo "${fruits[1]}"
for f in "${fruits[@]}"; do echo $f; done

Advanced Scripting Concepts

Using getopts for Arguments

while getopts ":u:p:" opt; do
  case $opt in
    u) user=$OPTARG ;;
    p) pass=$OPTARG ;;
  esac
done

Regular Expressions with grep

grep -E "pattern" file.txt

Debugging Bash Scripts

set -x and set -e

• set -x: prints each command.
• set -e: exits on error.

Using echo for Debugging

Sprinkle echo like breadcrumbs to trace issues.

Real-world Bash Script Examples

Backup Script

#!/bin/bash
tar -czf backup.tar.gz /home/user/docs

Automation Script

#!/bin/bash
for file in *.log; do
  mv "$file" logs/
done

Best Practices and Tips

Writing Clean Code

• Indent consistently.
• Use meaningful variable names.

Security Considerations

• Never blindly run user input.
• Avoid eval unless absolutely necessary.

Conclusion: Bash Tutorial

Bash might look intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s like wielding a superpower. Whether you’re automating backups, parsing logs, or creating complex tools, Bash will save you time and make your workflows efficient. So open that terminal and start scripting!

FAQs: Bash Tutorial

1. Is Bash only for Linux?

No, it’s available on macOS, and even Windows through WSL or Git Bash.

2. How is Bash different from other shells like Zsh or Fish?

Bash is widely used and more standard, while Zsh and Fish offer more features and customization out-of-the-box.

3. Can I use Bash for web development?

Indirectly, yes. It’s great for managing servers, automating deployment, or running build scripts.

4. What’s the best way to learn Bash?

Practice! Start with simple scripts, automate daily tasks, and build from there.

5. Are Bash scripts safe?

They can be, but always sanitize input and follow scripting best practices.