What is the -n option in if statement in Linux?
Let's say there is a code:
if [ -n "$variable" ];then break;fi
What is it checking about the variable in if statement?
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1It’s not an option of Linux or `if`, it’s [`[`](https://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/utilities/test.html). – Biffen Oct 01 '21 at 08:45
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1The options are described in `man test`. – kometen Oct 01 '21 at 08:50
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-n checks if the corresponding string variable (in your case $variable) is of non-zero length.
kmalarski
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that means if $variable has 0 length value then it will exit from if statement? – Aviator Oct 01 '21 at 08:59
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If $variable has 0 length, nothing after "then" statement will be executed. You can easily see what happens by replacing break with an echo. – kmalarski Oct 01 '21 at 13:56