Escape filenames the same way Bash does it

Question

When I use the "tab" key in bash (when you have started to type the filename and you want it to complete), bash escapes the filename correctly, and if I use exactly that "escaped" filename, it works.

For Instance:

An-Beat - Mentally Insine (Original Mix).mp3 => After bash Escapes It Using "TAB" An-Beat\ -\ Mentally\ Insine\ \(Original\ Mix\).mp3

I'm search for a function for bash that will escape a filename the same way "tab" escapes filenames.

Answer 1

Use printf (1):

x='a real \good %* load of c$rap' x=$(printf '%q' "$x") echo $x 

will return

a\ real\ \\good\ %\*\ load\ of\ c\$rap