Shell Scripting Tutorial for Beginners 17 - Read a file content in Bash

How do I read a text file line by line under a Linux or UNIX-like system using BASH shell?
You can use while..do..done bash loop to read file line by line on a Linux, OSX, or Unix-like system.
There are basically three ways to read file content using bash.
1a: While loop: Single line at a time: Input redirection.
1b: While loop: Single line at a time:
Open the file, read from a file descriptor (in this case file descriptor #4).
2: While loop: Read file into single variable and parse.

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[deepakranjan]

We can also use the below script to read a file:-

#! /bin/bash

echo -e "Enter your file name \c"
read p

cat $p

I think it is simple

[ajithreddy]

Can you brief us applications of IFS using any example....in this video we couldn't understand the purpose of IFS as output for all the cases are same ....:)

[dasvtx]

Excellent to understand the basics. Thank you!

[n_lisper]

I have a simple question: you are assigning space to IFS, from my understanding space becomes the only separator right? Why does it split at new lines rather than spaces in the output?

[tsilivisgeo]

Is there any way to read raws or collumns or specific parts of a text file separately? that could be useful.

[nitinvishwakarma]

But why would one use "while" to read the file, when it can be done easily in one step....

[sudhanshurr]

can you please explain the use of 'IFS' briefly

[ctrnwom]

The IFS= has to be assigned before the while loop in my case in order to have an effect against wildcards in the script.

[rakotondrasoahary]

how to read this file into an array instead of a while loop?
Thanks for the tutorial

[asadasivam]

How to input current directory/ current files into while loop

[sansactionl]

its aprli 1st, i don't trust anything

[Shiba_Kafka]

turn speed up to 1, 25. Save up your precious time xD

[amandeepgera]

Did not understand tthis lecture....explaianation wasnt good