Learning Linux Shell Scripting

Exiting from a loop with a break

In the previous section, we discussed about how continue can be used to exit from the current iteration of a loop. The break command is another way to introduce a new condition within a loop. Unlike continue, however, it causes the loop to be terminated altogether if the condition is met.

In the for_12.sh script, we check the directory's content. If the directory is found, then we are exiting the loop and displaying the message that the first directory is found:

#!/bin/bash
rm -rf sample*
echo > sample_1
echo > sample_2
mkdir sample_3
echo > sample_4

for file in sample*
do
  if [ -d "$file" ]; then
    break;
  fi
done

echo The first directory is $file
rm -rf sample*
exit 0

Let's test the program:

$ chmod +x for_12.sh
$ ./for_12.sh ...