`printf "2+2" | bc` returns a syntax error, `echo "2+2" | bc` works, how are they handling strings differently?

Question

printf "2+2" | bc gives me a syntax error, but echo "2+2" | bc outputs 4, I thought printf would work fine but it didn't, could someone help me understand why?

`printf '%s\n' "2+2" | bc` newline is necessary – Gilles Quénot Mar 15 '23 at 01:11 — Gilles Quénot, Mar 15 '23 at 01:11

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 15 '23 at 01:13

2

$ printf "2+2\n" | bc 
4

Looks good to me.

bc won't be pleased if there's EOF before the expression line ends.

answered Mar 15 '23 at 01:13

J_H

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`printf "2+2" | bc` returns a syntax error, `echo "2+2" | bc` works, how are they handling strings differently?

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