GNU bug report logs - #56077
Pattern Beginning With Dash Throws Error

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Message #5 received at submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: gazip <at> tutanota.com
To: Bug Grep <bug-grep <at> gnu.org>
Subject: Pattern Beginning With Dash Throws Error
Date: Sat, 18 Jun 2022 22:05:07 +0200 (CEST)

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

Hello,

I just encountered a problem where when the search pattern starts with a dash, grep interprets it as an argument parameter. It does not matter in what kind of quotes the pattern is wrapped. See examples below.
$ echo "- break -" | grep "- break -"
grep: invalid option -- ' '
Usage: grep [OPTION]... PATTERNS [FILE]...
Try 'grep --help' for more information.
$ echo "- break -" | grep '- break -'
grep: invalid option -- ' '
Usage: grep [OPTION]... PATTERNS [FILE]...
Try 'grep --help' for more information.
$ echo "- break -" | grep '^- break -'
- break -
$ echo "- break -" | grep "^- break -"
- break -
$ echo "- break -" | grep "-s break -"
grep: invalid option -- ' '
Usage: grep [OPTION]... PATTERNS [FILE]...
Try 'grep --help' for more information.


grep Version: grep (GNU grep) 3.7


Sincerely,
Gazi

[Message part 2 (text/html, inline)]

Message #10 received at 56077-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Paul Eggert <eggert <at> cs.ucla.edu>
To: gazip <at> tutanota.com
Cc: 56077-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#56077: Pattern Beginning With Dash Throws Error
Date: Sat, 18 Jun 2022 16:49:58 -0500

On 6/18/22 15:05, gazip--- via Bug reports for GNU grep wrote:
> I just encountered a problem where when the search pattern starts with a dash, grep interprets it as an argument parameter.


That's normal for grep. See question 3 of:

https://www.gnu.org/software/grep/manual/html_node/Usage.html

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