> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://ploegert.gitbook.io/til/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://ploegert.gitbook.io/til/os/unix/variables/compare-two-variables-in-a-bash-script.md).

# Compare Two Variables In A Bash Script

You can compare two variables in a bash script with an `if` block like so:

```bash
if [ "$EDITOR" = "$PREFERRED_EDITOR" ]; then
  # do something ...
fi
```

If those variables are equal, then the contents of the `if` block will be executed.

Notice that both variables are wrapped in quotes. This is to avoid a potential syntax error. If the quotes were excluded and one of the variables happened to be unset, then the comparison would evaluate to:

```bash
if [ "vim" = ]; then
  # do something ...
fi
```

That would cause an error, rather than evaluating to false and moving in. Wrapping each in quotes allows an unset variable to turn into an empty string (`""`).