{"id":15680,"date":"2019-02-27T11:35:52","date_gmt":"2019-02-27T11:35:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/?p=15680"},"modified":"2025-12-22T15:18:54","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T15:18:54","slug":"bash-for-loop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/tutorials\/bash-for-loop","title":{"rendered":"How to use the bash for loop: Syntax and examples"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Bash for loop<\/strong> is a statement in the Bash programming language that allows a code or script to run repeatedly. It enables you to finish repetitive tasks simultaneously, which helps improve system management efficiency. <\/p>

A Bash for loop works by assigning items in a list to a variable and executing an operation for each of them. The basic syntax is as follows:<\/p>

for VARIABLE in 1 2 3 4 5 .. N\nPerform the below command:\ncommand1\ncommand2\ncommandN\ndone<\/pre>
In a real-world scenario, a Bash for loop has various implementations, often involving other programming concepts. For example, you can use a Bash for loop to create a three-expression loop, an infinite loop, a start-and-stop sequence, and more. <\/p>
Continue reading to learn more about a Bash for loop and its practical usage examples. <\/p>
Download comprehensive bash cheat sheet<\/a><\/p>
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What is a Bash for loop?<\/h2>
A Bash for loop is a construction that lets you run a set of commands repeatedly on multiple items with a single execution. It is helpful for automating repetitive operations, such as renaming files, in a command-line-based system like a Linux virtual private server<\/a> (VPS). <\/p>
The logic behind a Bash for loop is as follows: a set of commands will continue to run in a loop for each item listed in the variable. This loop ends after running the operation for the last item. <\/p>
Simply put, you can interpret it as for<\/strong> each item assigned to the variable, loop<\/strong> the same set of commands. However, you can incorporate conditional statements to modify how the loop will run. <\/p>
Let’s explore the syntax of a Bash for loop line by line in the next section to better understand about how it works. <\/p>
What is the syntax of a Bash for loop?<\/h2>
The Bash for loop executes a set of commands repeatedly, with the loop iterating through a sequence of items or values. The syntax of such an operation looks like this:<\/p>
for VARIABLE in 1 2 3 4 5 .. N\nPerform the below command:\ncommand1\ncommand2\ncommandN\ndone<\/pre>
In the real world, this syntax would look like the example below:<\/p>
#!\/bin\/bash\nfor i in 1 2 3 4 5\ndo\necho \"Hello $i\"\ndone<\/pre>
Executing the bash file will cause the following sequence:<\/p>
Hello 1\nHello 2\nHello 3\nHello 4 \nHello 5<\/pre>
Let’s inspect each element:<\/p>