How do I tell if a regular file does not exist in Bash?

Question

I\'ve used the following script to see if a file exists:

#!/bin/bash

FILE=$1     
if [ -f $FILE ]; then
   echo \"File $FILE exists.\"
else
   echo \"File $         


        

Answer 1

I prefer to do the following one-liner, in POSIX shell compatible format:

$ [ -f "/$DIR/$FILE" ] || echo "$FILE NOT FOUND"

$ [ -f "/$DIR/$FILE" ] && echo "$FILE FOUND"

For a couple of commands, like I would do in a script:

$  [ -f "/$DIR/$FILE" ] || { echo "$FILE NOT FOUND" ; exit 1 ;}

Once I started doing this, I rarely use the fully typed syntax anymore!!

Answer 2

The simplest way

FILE=$1
[ ! -e "${FILE}" ] && echo "does not exist" || echo "exists"

Answer 3

You can do this:

[[ ! -f "$FILE" ]] && echo "File doesn't exist"

or

if [[ ! -f "$FILE" ]]; then
    echo "File doesn't exist"
fi

If you want to check for file and folder both, then use -e option instead of -f. -e returns true for regular files, directories, socket, character special files, block special files etc.

Answer 4

The test thing may count too. It worked for me (based on Bash Shell: Check File Exists or Not):

test -e FILENAME && echo "File exists" || echo "File doesn't exist"

Answer 5

sometimes it may be handy to use && and || operators.

Like in (if you have command "test"):

test -b $FILE && echo File not there!

or

test -b $FILE || echo File there!

Answer 6

Bash File Testing

-b filename - Block special file
-c filename - Special character file
-d directoryname - Check for directory Existence
-e filename - Check for file existence, regardless of type (node, directory, socket, etc.)
-f filename - Check for regular file existence not a directory
-G filename - Check if file exists and is owned by effective group ID
-G filename set-group-id - True if file exists and is set-group-id
-k filename - Sticky bit
-L filename - Symbolic link
-O filename - True if file exists and is owned by the effective user id
-r filename - Check if file is a readable
-S filename - Check if file is socket
-s filename - Check if file is nonzero size
-u filename - Check if file set-user-id bit is set
-w filename - Check if file is writable
-x filename - Check if file is executable

How to use:

#!/bin/bash
file=./file
if [ -e "$file" ]; then
    echo "File exists"
else 
    echo "File does not exist"
fi 

A test expression can be negated by using the ! operator

#!/bin/bash
file=./file
if [ ! -e "$file" ]; then
    echo "File does not exist"
else 
    echo "File exists"
fi