bash shell scripting style guide

Double quote array expansions to avoid re-splitting elements ^SH-2068

Description:

Double quotes around $@ (and similarly, ${array[@]}) prevents globbing and word splitting of individual elements, while still expanding to multiple separate arguments.

Let's say you have four arguments: baz, foo bar, * and /*/*/*/*.

"$@" will expand into exactly that: baz, foo bar, * and /*/*/*/*.

$@ will expand into multiple other arguments: baz, foo, bar, file.txt, otherfile.jpg, and (eventually) a list of most files on the system.

Since the latter is rarely expected or desired, this issue warns you about it.

Problematic code:

cp $@ ~/dir

Correct code:

cp "$@" ~/dir