How to Obtain a Bash Substring After a Specified Character

In programming, a string is a series of characters, whether as a precise constant or some sort of variable. The characters contained within a string can be any number, digit, or special character. Keywords can be used to obtain a substring after certain characters, and all keywords work the same. Some examples of keywords include the following:

• Cut
• Awk
• Sed

This article provides several examples to improve your understanding of the concept of obtaining a substring after a certain character.

To follow the examples provided in this tutorial, first, log into your Linux system and open the terminal. Next, create a new file with the name “input.sh.”

Example 1: Using the Cut Keyword

Open the file “input.sh” from the home directory, and write the following code in the file. In our first example, we will define a string named “string” with some value in it having some characters and numbers. We will use the keyword “cut” in this code, followed by “-d,” to obtain the substring of the particular string. After that, we will provide the exact character in inverted commas as “-“ so that the substring will be searched after this special character.

Here, it is important to understand the main idea of substring formation. You must remember how to include the keyword “f” when using the “cut” command. The keyword “f” can be used in various ways to create a substring, so let us look at this particular method.

-f2: text after the first special character “-“ and before the next “-“

This means that it should display the substring “bar” because it is located after the first “-“ character and before the next “-“ character.

<img alt="" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/echo/How-to-Obtain-a-Bash-Substring-After-a-Specified-Character_1.jpg" data-lazy- height="41" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”702″>

After running this bash file, we obtained the substring “bar,” as we expected.

<img alt="" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/echo/How-to-Obtain-a-Bash-Substring-After-a-Specified-Character_2.jpg" data-lazy- height="37" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”707″>

Now, we will check the same example for the “-f2-“ keyword. Update the file, as below.

-f2-: the text following the first special character “-“ regardless of whether there are numerous “-“ characters.

This implies that it will display the substring “bar-123” because it is located after the first “-“ character, regardless of whether any “-“ characters exist.

<img alt="" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/echo/How-to-Obtain-a-Bash-Substring-After-a-Specified-Character_3.jpg" data-lazy- height="41" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”704″>

After executing this bash file, we obtained the substring “bar-123,” as it is located after the first “-“ character.

<img alt="" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/echo/How-to-Obtain-a-Bash-Substring-After-a-Specified-Character_4.jpg" data-lazy- height="36" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”709″>

We will now take the same condition, with little changes to the string and characters. We have defined the new string “str” and assigned it a different value. In this example, “i” is the special character to be searched from the original string, and from this character onward, we will create a substring. In this case, we have used:

-f2: to create a substring following the first special character “i” and before the next character “i.”

This implies that it should display the substring “ltEff=str” because it is located after the first “i“ character.

<img alt="" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/echo/How-to-Obtain-a-Bash-Substring-After-a-Specified-Character_5.jpg" data-lazy- height="39" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”716″>

When the file runs, a substring will be obtained before the next “i” and after the first “i.”

<img alt="" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/echo/How-to-Obtain-a-Bash-Substring-After-a-Specified-Character_6.jpg" data-lazy- height="37" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”716″>

You can try this method with the same line of string, as shown in the image below:

<img alt="" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/echo/How-to-Obtain-a-Bash-Substring-After-a-Specified-Character_7.jpg" data-lazy- height="19" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”701″>

It will display the same result as above.

<img alt="" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/echo/How-to-Obtain-a-Bash-Substring-After-a-Specified-Character_8.jpg" data-lazy- height="37" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”721″>

Now, we will use the “cut” keyword with little change to the “f” condition in a single line. We will use “f1” in this case to change the outcome of the substring. We are using:

-f1: to create a substring before the first special character “i.”

This infers that it should display the substring “GenF” because it is located before the special character “i.”

<img alt="" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/echo/How-to-Obtain-a-Bash-Substring-After-a-Specified-Character_9.jpg" data-lazy- height="22" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”717″>

The output below is as expected.

<img alt="" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/echo/How-to-Obtain-a-Bash-Substring-After-a-Specified-Character_10.jpg" data-lazy- height="35" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”716″>

Here, we are using the same example with little change. We have been using the old method for it.

<img alt="" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/echo/How-to-Obtain-a-Bash-Substring-After-a-Specified-Character_11.jpg" data-lazy- height="39" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”719″>

The result of this script is the same as above.

<img alt="" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/echo/How-to-Obtain-a-Bash-Substring-After-a-Specified-Character_12.jpg" data-lazy- height="38" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”713″>

Next, taking the same previous example, we use the “cut” keyword, while changing the keyword “f.” Here, we will use “f3” to change the outcome of the substring, and we are using:

-f3: to create a substring after the next special character “i.”

This indicates that it should show the substring “ng.-01234” because it is located after the next special character “i.”

<img alt="" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/echo/How-to-Obtain-a-Bash-Substring-After-a-Specified-Character_13.jpg" data-lazy- height="42" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”725″>

We will run the same code using the Bash command. You can see the new result below:

<img alt="" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/echo/How-to-Obtain-a-Bash-Substring-After-a-Specified-Character_14.jpg" data-lazy- height="36" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”718″>

Example 2: Using the Awk Keyword

Open the file “input.sh” and write the appended code in the file. Here, we have declared an echo statement with the string “foo-bar-123” using the “awk” keyword. The print term is followed by the “-F-“ keyword. This will create a substring after the next special character, which is “123,” and print it. There is no need to define the special character in this case.

<img alt="" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/echo/How-to-Obtain-a-Bash-Substring-After-a-Specified-Character_15.jpg" data-lazy- height="20" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”704″>

The following is the output “123” that was mentioned above.

<img alt="" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/echo/How-to-Obtain-a-Bash-Substring-After-a-Specified-Character_16.jpg" data-lazy- height="36" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”718″>

Example 3: Using the Sed Keyword

In this example, we will update the same file with the code provided below. In this case, the keyword “sed” is used instead of “cut” or “awk.”

<img alt="" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/echo/How-to-Obtain-a-Bash-Substring-After-a-Specified-Character_17.jpg" data-lazy- height="23" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”700″>

This code will display a similar output to that of the previous example.

<img alt="" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/echo/How-to-Obtain-a-Bash-Substring-After-a-Specified-Character_18.jpg" data-lazy- height="36" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”718″>

Example 4: Using Special Characters

In the next example, we will update the same file with the code provided below. Here, we will define three strings: “string,” “searchstr,” and “temp.” We have “${string%$searchstr*}” in the code. The “%” will search for the value of the variable “searchstr,” which is “and,” and will remove everything after this special variable from the original string. The remaining text will be saved in the variable “temp.” Now, the variable “temp” will be printed, along with the text “This is a new string.”

<img alt="" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/echo/How-to-Obtain-a-Bash-Substring-After-a-Specified-Character_19.jpg" data-lazy- height="90" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”720″>

If we execute the above code, the original string will be printed first; then, the new substring will be printed.

<img alt="" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/echo/How-to-Obtain-a-Bash-Substring-After-a-Specified-Character_20.jpg" data-lazy- height="53" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”724″>

Taking the same example with a small update, we will use the “#*” string so that everything following the value of “searchstr,” which is “and,” will be inserted into variable “temp.”

<img alt="" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/echo/How-to-Obtain-a-Bash-Substring-After-a-Specified-Character_21.jpg" data-lazy- height="92" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”721″>

When you check it in Bash, you will see that the old string will print first. After that, since “it will be removed” is a new value of variable “temp,” that is why it will be printed at the next line first, along with the text “This is a new string.”

<img alt="" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/echo/How-to-Obtain-a-Bash-Substring-After-a-Specified-Character_22.jpg" data-lazy- height="53" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”720″>

Conclusion

If you want to obtain a substring from any string using some special character in it, you can do so by utilizing the methods provided above.