How do I prompt for Yes/No/Cancel input in a Linux shell script?

You can prompt for Yes, No, or Cancel in a Bash script by:

1. Displaying a prompt (e.g., “y/n/c”)
2. Reading a single character of user input
3. Using a case statement to handle each response appropriately

Here’s a simple example:

#!/usr/bin/env bash

echo "Do you wish to continue?"
echo "(y)es, (n)o, or (c)ancel:"
read -n 1 -r user_input  # -n 1 reads a single character, -r treats backslashes literally
echo  # Move to a new line after input

case $user_input in
  [yY])
    echo "User selected 'Yes'."
    # Place 'yes' logic here
    ;;
  [nN])
    echo "User selected 'No'."
    # Place 'no' logic here
    ;;
  [cC])
    echo "User selected 'Cancel'."
    # Place 'cancel' logic here
    ;;
  *)
    echo "Invalid choice."
    ;;
esac

Explanation

• read -n 1 -r:
  • -n 1 reads exactly one character (so the user doesn’t have to press Enter).
  • -r ensures raw input (backslashes aren’t processed).
• Case Insensitivity: [yY], [nN], and [cC] capture either uppercase or lowercase.
• Line Break: echo after read just prints a newline for readability.

If you prefer the user to type a word like “yes” or “no,” you can omit -n 1 and read an entire string instead, then process it similarly in the case.

Further Learning

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