How to define a function inside another function in Bash?

Question

I have the following code

func1(){     #some function thing     function2(){         #second function thing     } } 

and I want to call function2 but I get an error function2 : not found

Is there a solution?

Answer 1

Limit the scope of the inner function

Use function defined with parenthesis () instead of braces {}:

f() (   g() {     echo G   }   g )  # Ouputs `G` f # Command not found. g 

Parenthesis functions are run in sub-shells, which have the same semantics of () vs {}, see also: Defining bash function body using parenthesis instead of braces

This cannot be used if you want to:

• set variables
• exit
• cd

as those are lost in the created sub-shell.

See also: bash functions: enclosing the body in braces vs. parentheses