Bash script with both parameter values and optional flags

Question

I'm writing a bash script, which relies on a number of values provided via parameters and offers optional (boolean) flags.

Based on the example on this page, I've extended the script, with the -h option, the to the following:

human=false

while getopts u:a:f:h: flag
do
    case "${flag}" in
        u) username=${OPTARG};;
        a) age=${OPTARG};;
        f) fullname=${OPTARG};;
        h) human=true;;
    esac
done

if $human; then
        echo "Hello human"
else
        echo "You're not human"
fi

echo "Username: $username";
echo "Age: $age";
echo "Full Name: $fullname";

The problem with this is, the -h parameter requires a value, whereas it should be handles as a flag:

bash test.sh -u asdf -h
test.sh: option requires an argument -- h
You're not human
Username: asdf
Age: 
Full Name:

How can I use both parameters with values and flags in a bash script?

Antonio Petricca · Accepted Answer · 2021-10-21 06:53:03Z

3

You should replace getopts u:a:f:h: with getopts u:a:f:h.

Removing the : you tell getopts that h has no additional argument.

answered Oct 21, 2021 at 6:53

Antonio Petricca

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1 Comment

cdub Over a year ago

What would I do if I have more than one boolean flag? So both an -h and a -d that neither need args only change the default false to a true

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