gistfile1.sh

# let's define this (bash) function to help us see what's happening:
args() { echo "${#@} arguments:"; for arg in "$@"; do echo "-> $arg"; done; }


# now let's see the differences between $@ and $*:

# $*: expands into a series of words, basically ignoring all the quotes
# you'll hardly ever want to do this
test() { args $*; }
test a "b b" c
# will echo 4 arguments: a, b, b, c


# $@: the exact same as $*
test() { args $@; }
test a "b b" c
# will echo 4 arguments: a, b, b, c

# "$*": expands into a single argument, joining original arguments with spaces
# possibly even less useful than $*
test() { args "$*"; }
test a "b b" c
# will echo 1 argument: a b b c

# "$@": expands into the proper original arguments
# that's the sane one
test() { args "$@"; }
test a "b b" c


# the same rules apply to array-type variables, but syntax is ridiculous
# e.g.: given an array foo, use: ${foo[*]} ${foo[@]} "${foo[*]}" "${foo[@]}"