`if [-e file.txt]` not working in bash

Question

I\'m trying to check if a file exists using bash. This is my code

if [-e file.txt]; then
  echo \"file exists\"
else
  echo \"file doesn\'t exist\"
fi


        

Answer 1

Woops, turns out I needed a space between [ and -e. Like this:

if [ -e file.txt ]; then
  echo "file exists"
else
  echo "file doesn't exist"
fi

Answer 2

the '[' and ']' needs to be 'on--their-own', i.e. surrounded by spaces.

if [ -e file.txt ] *emphasized text*; then
  echo "file exists"
else
  echo "file doesn't exist"
fi

Answer 3

[ is not a special token in Bash; it's just that the word [ is a builtin command (just like echo). So you need a space after it. And, similarly, you need a space before ]:

if [ -e file.txt ] ; then

That said, I recommend [[ ]] instead — it's safer in a few ways (though it still requires the spaces):

if [[ -e file.txt ]] ; then

Answer 4

if [ -e file.txt ]; then

You need spaces. [ and ] are regular programs.