Check Whether a User Exists

Question

I want to create a script to check whether a user exists. I am using the logic below:

# getent passwd test > /dev/null 2&>1
# echo $?
0
# getent pa         


        

Answer 1

I suggest to use id command as it tests valid user existence wrt passwd file entry which is not necessary means the same:

if [ `id -u $USER_TO_CHECK 2>/dev/null || echo -1` -ge 0 ]; then 
echo FOUND
fi

Note: 0 is root uid.