The read command can be used to prompt a user for input. For example, let's say you have a bash shell script that has the following.

#!/bin/bash
read name
echo "Your name is" $name

When running the bash shell script, there will be a flashing cursor where you can enter input. In this example, John Doe is entered, and Your name is John Doe is returned.

~]# bash example.sh
John Doe
Your name is John Doe

Add text to the prompt

The prior example is not very practical, because there is just a flashing cursor with no message that describes the expected input. The -p option can be used  to add a message to the prompt.

#!/bin/bash
read -p "Enter your name: " name
echo "Your name is" $name

Now, when running the script, there will be a message so that you know what to type.

[root@server1 ~]# bash example.sh
Enter your name:

Allow \ character

By default, the read command will escape the \ character. In this example, the \ character is escaped and not included in the output.

[root@server1 ~]# bash example.sh
Enter your name: Jo\hn D\oe
Your name is John Doe

The -r option can be used to allow the \ character.

#!/bin/bash
read -r -p "Enter your name :" name
echo "Your name is" $name

Now, the \ character will be displayed in the output.

[root@server1 ~]# bash example.sh
Enter your name: Jo\hn D\oe
Your name is Jo\hn D\oe

New line

The -rep option and $ character can be used to create new lines in the read command.

#!/bin/bash
read -rep $'How many MB should the new JVM be (128 256 512 1024)?\n>' SIZE

This is useful so that the cursor that prompts the users for input appears below the text of the read command.

[root@server1 ~]# bash example.sh
How many MB should the new JVM be (128 256 512 1024)? 
>

Timeout due to inactivity

The -t option can be used to cause the read command to timeout if input is not submitted within a certain time period. In this example, if there is no input in 60 seconds, the read command will timeout.

#!/bin/bash
read -t 60 -p "Enter your name :" name
echo "Your name is" $name

In this example, no input is submitted within 60 seconds, and the name variable is empty.

[root@server1 ~]# bash example.sh
Enter your name:
Your name is

If / else

The read command is very helpful when used in combination with an if else statement. In this example, the read command is used to ask a user if they really want to delete a file. If the user types Y, test_file is deleted. If the user types N, test_file is not deleted.

#!/bin/bash
read -p "Are you sure you want to delete this file? Y for yes, N for no : " answer
if [ $answer == "Y" ]
then  
  rm test_file  
  echo "The file has been deleted"
else
  echo "The file has not been deleted"
fi