If you have a file and you are trying to access it using vim/nano or maybe a script file and you get an error "bash: syntax error near unexpected token", well the reason for this error is that you have a character in the file name which is special w.r.t your operating system (Unix, Linux or macOS)
Example:# nano myfile(2023).csv
bash: syntax error near unexpected token `('
Fix:
# nano myfile\(2023\).csv
You need to escape the special character with a slash.
![bash- syntax error near unexpected token bash- syntax error near unexpected token](https://code2care.org/linux/fix-bash-syntax-error-near-unexpected/images/bash- syntax error near unexpected token.jpg)
List of special characters and how to escape them to fix "syntax error near unexpected token":
Special Character | Escape Sequence |
---|---|
Space | \ |
! | \! |
" | \" |
# | \# |
$ | \$ |
% | \% |
& | \& |
' | \' |
( | \( |
) | \) |
* | \* |
+ | \+ |
, | \, |
- | \- |
. | \. |
/ | \/ |
: | \: |
; | \; |
< | \< |
= | \= |
> | \> |
? | \? |
@ | \@ |
[ | \[ |
\ | \\ |
] | \] |
^ | \^ |
` | \\ |
{ | \{ |
| | | |
} | \} |
~ | \~ |
Facing issues? Have Questions? Post them here! I am happy to answer!
Author Info:
Rakesh (He/Him) has over 14+ years of experience in Web and Application development. He is the author of insightful How-To articles for Code2care.
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