![Multiple Comparison Statement in Bash Fails - Bash: [: Missing `]'](https://docuprint.cloud68.co/uploads/multiple-comparison-statement-in-bash-fails-bash_1200.jpg)
I need to compare a variable to multiple variables as shown below.
if [ [ "$SECONDS" -ne "$one" || "$SECONDS" -ne "$two" ] ]
This statement is giving me the error
[: missing `]'
How can I compare the value to SECONDS to both one and two. All these are integer comparison.
2 Answers
The correct syntax of if for expresions in bash are this refrence:
Table 7-2. Combining expressions
Operation Effect
------------------ ------------------
[ ! EXPR ] True if EXPR is false.
[ ( EXPR ) ] Returns the value of EXPR. This may be used to override the normal precedence of operators.
[ EXPR1 -a EXPR2 ] True if both EXPR1 and EXPR2 are true.
[ EXPR1 -o EXPR2 ] True if either EXPR1 or EXPR2 is true.
your if statement should be like this:
if [ "$SECONDS" -ne "$one" -o "$SECONDS" -ne "$two" ]
You can also use [[ keyword:
if [[ "$SECONDS" -ne "$one" || "$SECONDS" -ne "$two" ]];
Here is it's chart help [[:
EXPR1 && EXPR2 True if both EXPR1 and EXPR2 are true; else false EXPR1 || EXPR2 True if either EXPR1 or EXPR2 is true; else false
When you start your statement using [ then space and another [; Bash will think that you are running a test (First [) on an other test (second [).
And before your || it will look for a ]literal, can't find it and complains about it.
