How do I check if an array contains anything else than a specific value in bash?

Question

arr=( d d d a)

The code below is supposed to check if it contains d. Is there a similar way to check if it contains anything else than d?

if [[ " ${arr[*]} " == *" d "* ]]; then                                         
 echo "arr contains d"  
fi

@iamauser, in your edit you altered the code presented in the question. To be sure, the original code did not work, but the revised code is not altogether correct either (it can return a false positive if the array contains ' d', 'd ', or ' d '). That aspect of your edit was not appropriate. — John Bollinger
– John Bollinger, Commented Sep 30, 2015 at 18:15
@JohnBollinger The formatting obscured the actual code in the original question. The edit is valid. — chepner
– chepner, Commented Sep 30, 2015 at 18:16
@iamauser, my bad. I failed to look at the markdown view of the edit. It's fine. — John Bollinger
– John Bollinger, Commented Sep 30, 2015 at 18:18

iamauser · Accepted Answer · 2015-09-30 18:23:38Z

2

You can loop over the array and check each element. There might be a better method than the following, but this one should work :

# Loop over the array elements
for i in "${arr[@]}"; 
do 
  # Check if it is not d
  if [[ "$i" != "d" ]]; then 
    echo "array element is not d. it is $i"; 
  fi 
done

edited Sep 30, 2015 at 18:23

answered Sep 30, 2015 at 18:13

iamauser

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1 Comment

purpleminion Over a year ago

Is there anyway possible to do this without a loop? I just want to know if anywhere in the array there is an element that does not equal "d". Don't need to know which element or what it equals. Just need to know that there is an instance that does not equal "d". Thanks

anubhava · Accepted Answer · 2015-09-30 18:26:30Z

0

As long as you're not using space in Array elements you can use:

[[ " ${arr[*]} " == *" "[^d]" "* ]] && echo "array has non-d element" || echo "no"

Testing:

arr=(d d d a)
[[ " ${arr[*]} " == *" "[^d]" "* ]] && echo "array has non-d element" || echo "no"
array has non-d element

arr=(d d d)
[[ " ${arr[*]} " == *" "[^d]" "* ]] && echo "array has non-d element" || echo "no"
no

answered Sep 30, 2015 at 18:26

anubhava

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