Escape filenames the same way Bash does it

Question

When I use the \"tab\" key in bash (when you have started to type the filename and you want it to complete), bash escapes the filename correctly, a

Answer 1

Use printf (1):

x='a real \good %* load of c$rap'
x=$(printf '%q' "$x")
echo $x

will return

a\ real\ \\good\ %\*\ load\ of\ c\$rap