Resolving syntax error near unexpected token 'if' in Bash Scripting

Discover how to fix common syntax errors in Bash scripting, specifically the dreaded `syntax error near unexpected token 'if'`. Learn effective solutions and best practices for clean coding. --- This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/70186142/ asked by the user 'hmood' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/12709566/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/70190829/ provided by the user 'Dudi Boy' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/6266192/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions. Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: syntax error near unexpected token `if' in Bash Scripting Also, Content (except music) licensed under CC BY-SA https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/licensing The original Question post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ) license, and the original Answer post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ) license. If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com. --- Understanding and Fixing the syntax error near unexpected token 'if' in Bash Scripting Bash scripting provides powerful utilities for automating tasks, yet it can often produce cryptic error messages, particularly when it comes to handling conditional statements. One common error you may encounter is the syntax error near unexpected token 'if'. In this post, we'll delve into the cause of this error and how to effectively resolve it. The Problem While working on a Bash script to locate specific files, you might encounter this error when attempting to use an if statement within a loop. Here’s a snippet from a faulty script that illustrates the issue: [[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]] When running this script, you may see the following error message: [[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]] The Cause In Bash scripting, proper syntax is crucial. The error lies in the structure of the for loop and the subsequent if statement. The issue arises from a few key problems: Improper termination of for loop: The for loop assumes that the subsequent commands are enclosed with a block of code that requires a do keyword. Colon after variable reference: There is an unnecessary colon : after ~/$x, which is not syntactically correct. Missing done keyword: The loop structure lacks the done keyword that signals the end of the code block for the loop. The Solution To fix the syntax error, we need to follow proper Bash scripting conventions. Here’s the corrected version of the script: [[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]] Key Changes Made: Added do after the for statement: This clarifies the start of the loop’s command block. Removed the colon after ~/$x: Ensures there is no syntax confusion for file checking. Included done: Signals the end of the loop, which is necessary for Bash to understand your coding structure. Conclusion Bash scripting can be tricky, especially when it comes to syntax. However, by paying close attention to the structure of your loops and conditionals, you can avoid common pitfalls such as the syntax error near unexpected token 'if'. The fixes provided above should help ensure your scripts run smoothly. Remember to always test your scripts thoroughly, and don't hesitate to refer back to the official Bash documentation for further guidance! Happy scripting!