Get Bash array key value according to string variable

Question

I'd like to get the value of specific key from Bash Array by the name I get from another string parameter

For example:

first_var="key_name01"

declare -A array
array[key_name01]="key_value 01"
array[key_name02]="key_value 02"

echo "The key name is: ${first_var} >>> Value: array[${first_var}]"

Is it possible and if so how can I do it?

Thanks!

array[${first_var}] -> ${array[${first_var}]} (you're not printing the value). — P.P
– P.P, Commented Jul 24, 2020 at 16:00

that other guy · Accepted Answer · 2020-07-24 15:59:18Z

3

To access an array element, you can use ${arrayname[key]}. key can in turn be a $variable:

first_var="key_name01"

declare -A array
array[key_name01]="key_value 01"
array[key_name02]="key_value 02"

echo "The key name is: ${first_var} >>> Value: ${array[${first_var}]}"

Output:

The key name is: key_name01 >>> Value: key_value 01

answered Jul 24, 2020 at 15:59

that other guy

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1 Comment

glenn jackman Over a year ago

And the braces are not strictly needed for the key variable: ${array[$first_var]}

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