Bash - compare number variable to another number

In this article, we would like to show you how to compare number variable to another number in Bash.

Practical example

In this example, we use -eq equality operator to compare two numbers inside if statement.

script.sh file:

#!/bin/bash

number=5

if [ "$number" -eq 5 ]; then
    echo "The numbers are equal."
fi

Run in command line:

./script.sh

Output:

The numbers are equal.

Altermative notation

1. test based solution

#!/bin/bash

number=5

if test "$number" -eq 5; then
    echo "The numbers are equal."
fi

Note: [ ] notation is shorthand of test command.

2. [[ ]] based solution

#!/bin/bash

number=5

if [[ "$number" -eq 5 ]]; then
    echo "The numbers are equal."
fi

Note: [[ ]] notation is like extended test command.

3. (( )) based solution

#!/bin/bash

number=5

if (( "$number" == 5 )); then
    echo "The numbers are equal."
fi

Note: (( )) notation was created to simplyfy conditions.

Possible operators

See also

1. Bash - compare string variable to another string