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Using functions in bash to selectively run a group of Linux commands

Using a function in bash allows you to create something in Linux that works as if it were a script within a script. Whenever the data being processed matches a set of conditions, your script can call a function that does further processing.

The format of a function is very straightforward. The syntax looks like this:

<function_name> () {
<commands>
}

You can also use the following format that uses the word “function” if you prefer:

function <function_name> {
<commands>
}

In fact, you can also create a function on a single line if the commands to be run are limited, but note the required “;” that follows the command(s):

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Source:: Network World – Linux