read command in Linux with Examples

read command in Linux system is used to read from a file descriptor. Basically, this command read up the total number of bytes from the specified file descriptor into the buffer. If the number or count is zero then this command may detect the errors. But on success, it returns the number of bytes read. Zero indicates the end of the file. If some errors found then it returns -1.

Syntax:

read 

Examples:

• read command without any option: The read command asks for the user’s input and exit once the user provides some input.

  

• In the following example we are acquiring the user’s name and then showing the user’s name with a greeting.

  echo "what is your name..?";read name;echo "hello $name"