Integer Greater Than

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Syntax

# POSIX test command
test INT1 -gt INT2


# POSIX test bracket syntax
[ INT1 -gt INT2 ]


# Bash extended test keyword
[[ INT1 -gt INT2 ]]

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Technical Characteristics

• Strictly Integer-Based: Bash does not natively support floating-point arithmetic. The -gt operator evaluates integers only. Passing a floating-point number (e.g., 3.14) results in an error, but the specific error and exit status depend on the test construct used:
  • In [ and test, it yields an integer expression expected error and an exit status of 2.
  • In the extended [[ ]] construct, operands undergo arithmetic evaluation. A float produces a syntax error: invalid arithmetic operator and yields an exit status of 1.
• Evaluation in [ ] vs [[ ]]:
  • Standard [ ] and test: Variables must be explicitly dereferenced ($VAR) and should be double-quoted ("$VAR") to prevent syntax errors if the variable is null or unset. Passing a non-numeric string results in an integer expression expected error.
  • Extended [[ ]]: Because operands of -gt undergo arithmetic evaluation inside [[ ]], variables can be referenced by name without the $ prefix (e.g., [[ var -gt 5 ]]). Consequently, if a non-numeric string is passed, it is treated as a variable name. If that variable is unset, it silently evaluates to 0 instead of throwing a syntax error.
• Lexicographical vs. Arithmetic: The -gt operator is exclusively for arithmetic comparison. It must not be confused with the > operator, which performs lexicographical (string) comparison when used inside [[ ]] or [ ] (where it must be escaped as \>).
• Exclusion from Arithmetic Contexts: The -gt operator is not valid inside Bash arithmetic evaluation constructs (( )) or $(( )). In those specific contexts, the standard C-style > operator is used for integer comparison.

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Exit Status Codes

• 0 (Success/True): The left integer is strictly greater than the right integer.
• 1 (Failure/False/Arithmetic Error): The left integer is less than or equal to the right integer. This exit status is also returned when an arithmetic evaluation error occurs inside a [[ ]] construct (e.g., attempting to evaluate a floating-point number).
• 2 (Syntax/Operand Error): An invalid operand was provided (e.g., a missing operand, a float, or a non-numeric string) specifically within a standard [ or test construct.