The following table displays features that are different among the three shells.
| sh | ksh | csh | Meaning/Action | 
|---|---|---|---|
| $ | $ | % | Prompt. | 
| >| | >! | Force redirection. | |
| >>! | Force append. | ||
| > file 2>&1 | > file 2>&1 | >& file | Combine stdout and stderr. | 
| { } | Expand elements in list. | ||
| ‘ ‘ | ‘ ‘ | ‘ ‘ | Substitute output of enclosed command.  | 
| $( ) | Substitute output of enclosed command. (Preferred form.)  | ||
| $HOME | $HOME | $home | Home directory. | 
| ~ | ~ | Home directory symbol. | |
| var=value | var=value | set var=value | Variable assignment. | 
| export var | export var=val | setenv var val | Set environment variable.  | 
| ${nn} | More than nine args can be referenced.  | ||
| "$@" | "$@" | All args as separate words.  | |
| $# | $# | $#argv | Number of arguments.  | 
| $? | $? | $status | Exit status.  | 
| $! | $! | Background exit status.  | |
| $- | $- | Current options.  | |
| . file | . file | source file | Read commands in file.  | 
| alias x=y | alias x y | Name x stands for y.  | |
| case | case | switch/case | Choose alternatives.  | 
| cd ~- | popd/pushd | Switch directories.  | |
| done | done | end | End a loop statement.  | 
| esac | esac | endsw | End case or switch.  | 
| exit [n] | exit [n] | exit [(expr)] | Exit with a status.  | 
| for/do | for/do | foreach | Loop through variables.  | 
| print -r | glob | Ignore echo escapes.  | |
| hash | alias -t | hashstat | Display hashed commands (tracked aliases).  | 
| hash cmds | alias -t cmds | rehash | Remember command locations.  | 
| hash -r | PATH=$PATH | unhash | Forget command locations.  | 
| history | history | List previous commands.  | |
| r | !! | Redo previous command.  | |
| r str | !str | Redo command that starts with str.  | |
| r x=cmd | !cmd:s/x/y | Edit command, then execute.  | |
| if [ $i -eq 5 ] | if ((i==5)) | if ($i==5) | Sample if statement.  | 
| fi | fi | endif | End if statement.  | 
| ulimit | ulimit | limit | Set resource limits.  | 
| pwd | pwd | dirs | Print working directory.  | 
| read | read | $< | Read from standard input.  | 
| trap 2 | trap 2 | onintr | Ignore interrupts.  | 
| unalias | unalias | Remove aliases.  | |
| until/do | until/do | Begin until loop.  | |
| while/do | while/do | while | Begin while loop.  | 
Copyright © 2003 O'Reilly & Associates. All rights reserved.