# Bash string manipulation cheatsheet

<table>
	<tr>
		<th colspan="2">Removal</th>
	</tr>
	<tr>
		<td>Delete shortest match of <code>needle</code> from front of <code>haystack</code></td>
		<td><code>${haystack#needle}</code></td>
	</tr>
	<tr>
		<td>Delete longest match of <code>needle</code> from front of <code>haystack</code></td>
		<td><code>${haystack##needle}</code></td>
	</tr>
	<tr>
		<td>Delete shortest match of <code>needle</code> from back of <code>haystack</code></td>
		<td><code>${haystack%needle}</code></td>
	</tr>
	<tr>
		<td>Delete longest match of <code>needle</code> from back of <code>haystack</code></td>
		<td><code>${haystack%%needle}</code></td>
	</tr>
	<tr>
		<th colspan="2">Replacement</th>
	</tr>
	<tr>
		<td>Replace first match of <code>needle</code> with <code>replacement</code> from <code>haystack</code></td>
		<td><code>${haystack/needle/replacement}</code></td>
	</tr>
	<tr>
		<td>Replace all matches of <code>needle</code> with <code>replacement</code> from <code>haystack</code></td>
		<td><code>${haystack//needle/replacement}</code></td>
	</tr>
	<tr>
		<td>If <code>needle</code> matches front of <code>haystack</code> replace with <code>replacement</code></td>
		<td><code>${haystack/#needle/replacement}</code></td>
	</tr>
	<tr>
		<td>If <code>needle</code> matches back of <code>haystack</code> replace with <code>replacement</code></td>
		<td><code>${haystack/%needle/replacement}</code></td>
	</tr>
	<tr>
		<th colspan="2">Substitution</th>
	</tr>
	<tr>
		<td>If <code>variable</code> not set, return <code>value</code>, else <code>variable</code></td>
		<td><code>${variable-value}</code></td>
	</tr>
	<tr>
		<td>If <code>variable</code> not set <em>or</em> empty, return <code>value</code>, else <code>variable</code></td>
		<td><code>${variable:-value}</code></td>
	</tr>
	<tr>
		<td>If <code>variable</code> set, return <code>value</code>, else null string</td>
		<td><code>${variable+value}</code></td>
	</tr>
	<tr>
		<td>If <code>variable</code> set <em>and</em> not empty, return <code>value</code>, else null string</td>
		<td><code>${variable:+value}</code></td>
	</tr>
	<tr>
		<th colspan="2">Extraction</th>
	</tr>
	<tr>
		<td>Extract <code>length</code> characters from <code>variable</code> starting at <code>position</code></td>
		<td><code>${variable:position:length}</code></td>
	</tr>
	<tr>
		<td>String length of <code>variable</code></td>
		<td><code>${#variable}</code></td>
	</tr>
</table>

## Reference
- http://tldp.org/LDP/abs/html/string-manipulation.html.
- http://tldp.org/LDP/abs/html/parameter-substitution.html.
- http://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/utilities/V3_chap02.html#tag_18_06_02.