foreach loop through associative array in bash only returns last element

Question

This should print the whole associative array to the console:

#!/bin/sh

declare -a array=([key1]='value1' [key2]='value2')

for key in ${!array[@]}; do
    echo "Key = $key"
    echo "Value = ${array[$key]}"
done

echo ${array[key1]}
echo ${array[key2]}

Instead it prints oly the last variable:

[mles@sagnix etl-i_test]$ ./test.sh 
Key = 0
Value = value2
value2
value2

Where is my fault?

@htor: Bash Version is 3.2.25(1)-release.

Take a look at stackoverflow.com/q/688849/1983854 , there are many solutions to this. — fedorqui
– fedorqui, Commented May 22, 2013 at 9:49
are you sure /bin/sh is actually /bin/bash? also associative arrays are built using -A not -a ... see answer below — Ahmed Masud
– Ahmed Masud, Commented May 22, 2013 at 9:51
What's your BASH version? Provide the output of echo $BASH_VERSION in your question. — user1019830
– user1019830, Commented May 22, 2013 at 12:58

user1019830 · Accepted Answer · 2013-05-22 13:08:23Z

6

Associative arrays are supported in Bash 4 and newer versions. An array declared with the -a option is just a regular array that can be indexed by integers, not keys. This declaration results in the array with one element value2. When iterating over the keys with for key in ${!array[@]} the value of $key is 0 and therefore you get the first element.

Given the error output you get when trying to use -A to declare to array, I assume your Bash version is older than 4. Inspect the variable $BASH_VERSION.

For a deeper explaination of arrays, see http://mywiki.wooledge.org/BashGuide/Arrays.

answered May 22, 2013 at 13:08

user1019830

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

Ahmed Masud · Accepted Answer · 2013-05-22 09:56:32Z

3

#!/bin/bash

declare -A array=([key1]='value1' [key2]='value2')

for key in ${!array[@]}; do
    echo "array[$key] = ${array[$key]}"
done

echo ${array[key1]}
echo ${array[key2]}

answered May 22, 2013 at 9:56

Ahmed Masud

22.7k3 gold badges37 silver badges60 bronze badges

2 Comments

mles Over a year ago

that gives me an error ./test.sh: line 3: declare: -A: invalid option declare: usage: declare [-afFirtx] [-p] [name[=value] ...]

chepner Over a year ago

@mles: you aren't using bash 4 or later.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

foreach loop through associative array in bash only returns last element

2 Answers 2

Comments

2 Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

Comments

2 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related