How to print literal string "$1" in bash script?

Question

I want to print string called "$1". But when I do this with echo it prints string which equals to "$1" variable. How can I print "$1" just like string?

for example:

set -- "output"  # this sets $1 to be "output" echo $1          # ==> output 

But I want this:

echo $1      # ==> $1 

Answer 1

You have to escape the $ to have it shown:

$ echo "\$1" 

or, as noted by JeremyP in comments, just use single quotes so that the value of $1 does not get expanded:

$ echo '$1' 

Answer 2

You need to either:

• Enclose the variable in SINGLE quotes: echo '$1'
• Escape the $ sign: echo "\$1"