Bash supports a surprising number of string manipulation operations. If you use bash in your daily work, I’m pretty sure you will find these operations many useful and handy.
1. Counting Arguments: ${#}
You need to know with how many parameters the script was invoked. Use the shell built-in variable ${#}.
2. String Length: ${#parameter}
The length in characters of the value of parameter is substituted. If parameter is * or @, the value substituted is the number of positional parameters.
3.1 Shortest Substring Match: ${parameter#word}
Deletes the shortest match of word from front of parameter
3.2 Shortest Substring Match: ${parameter%word}
Deletes the shortest match of word from back of parameter
4.1 Longest Substring Match: ${parameter##word}
Deletes the longest match of word from front of parameter
4.2 Longest Substring Match: ${parameter%%word}
Deletes the Longest match of word from back of parameter
5.1 Substring Replacement: ${parameter/pattern/word}
Replace first match of pattern with string.
5.2 Substring Replacement: ${parameter//pattern/word}
Replace All matches of pattern with word.
6.1 Replace beginning and end: ${parameter/#pattern/word}
If pattern matches front end of parameter, substitute word for pattern.
6.2 Replace end and beginning: ${parameter/%pattern/word}
If pattern matches end end of parameter, substitute word for pattern.
You can find more Information and Examples regarding mentioned operators in following links:
http://tldp.org
http://www.linuxtopia.org
http://linuxgazette.net
http://www.thegeekstuff.com
