Bash does not support multi-dimensional arrays, but there is a way to imitate this functionality, if you absolutely have to. An array is a variable that can hold multiple values, where each value has a reference index known as a key. In Bash, there are two types of arrays. This is a pretty common problem in bash, to reference array within arrays for which you need to create name-references with declare -n.The name following the -n will act as a nameref to the value assigned (after =).Now we treat this variable with nameref attribute to expand as if it were an array and do a full proper quoted array expansion as before. When using arrays, one must know how many elements are present in the array. We can display the length of the whole array or any array element by using a special operator '#'. We can combine read with IFS (Internal Field Separator) to define a delimiter. Any variable may be used as an array; the declare builtin will explicitly declare an array. There are the associative arrays and integer-indexed arrays. Since bash 4.3 it is not that easy anymore. In BASH script it is possible to create type types of array, an indexed array or associative array. bash documentation: Accessing Array Elements. Now the myarray contains 3 elements so bash split string into array was successful # /tmp/split-string.sh My array: string1 string2 string3 Number of elements in the array: 3 . By asking for indexes not in the array you either create an array with indexes missing, ie 0,1,3,6,7,9 This would then mean you have "holes" at positions - 2,4,5,8 and nothing in any index after 9 However, you create your array using the following: Since bash does not discriminate string from a number, an array can contain a mix of strings and numbers. Instead, bash provides a special operator who does all the work for us. Example: Elements in arrays are frequently referred to by their index number, which is the position in which they reside in the array. You don't need this declare -p command in your real script. Method 3: Bash split string into array using delimiter. Arrays are indexed using integers and are zero-based. Bash arrays have numbered indexes only, but they are sparse, ie you don't have to define all the indexes. With "declare -n" you can add a reference to another variable and you can do this over and over again. Bash Array â An array is a collection of elements. Execute the script. As if this was not complicated enough, with "declare -p", you do not get the type or the original variable. No, you need not count them all. Unlike in many other programming languages, in bash, an array is not a collection of similar elements. These index numbers are always integer numbers which start at 0. echo "${array[@]}" Print all elements as a single quoted string As a quick example, hereâs a data table representing a two-dimensional array. Arrays in Bash. 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