Question

A colleague wrote a Bash script with a function that computes a value and stores it in a variable named 'result'. After the function runs, the main script uses '$result' but keeps getting the wrong value because an unrelated global variable also named 'result' is being overwritten by the function. What is the BEST way to fix the function so it does not clobber the global variable while still returning its computed value to the caller?

Accepted Answer

Declare the variable inside the function with 'local result', then output the value with 'echo' and capture it in the caller using command substitution

Answer

Add 'export result' inside the function so the variable is isolated to the function's environment

Answer

Use 'return $result' at the end of the function and read the value from '$?' in the caller

Answer

Prefix the function call with 'set -o nounset' so undefined variables are protected from being overwritten