The set Command in bash

The set command in Bash is used to set or change the values of the positional parameters (command-line arguments) within a script. It allows you to modify the values of the positional parameters directly, without relying on command-line arguments.

The set command has several uses and options:

1. Setting positional parameters explicitly: You can use the set command followed by the desired values to assign them as positional parameters. For example:

set value1 value2 value3

2. Setting positional parameters using the arguments passed to the script: By using the set command without any arguments, it automatically assigns the positional parameters based on the command-line arguments provided to the script. For example:

set -- "$@"

3. Changing the value of specific positional parameters: You can use the set command with the positional parameter’s index to modify its value. The index starts from 1 for the first parameter. For example:

set -- "$1" "new_value" "$3"

4. Enabling or disabling options: The set command can also be used to enable or disable various shell options. For example:

set -x  # Enable debugging mode
set +e  # Disable exit on error

The set command is a versatile tool for manipulating the positional parameters and modifying the shell’s behavior. It can be used to dynamically change the values of the arguments, reassign arguments based on different conditions, or enable/disable options for debugging or error handling.

Please note that when using the set command to modify positional parameters, it’s important to handle them with caution to ensure correct usage within your script.