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4.4.2.1 Step (‘step’)

step[+|-] [count]

Continue running your script until control reaches a different source line, then stop it and return control to the BASH debugger. An default alias alias for this is s.

The step command only stops at the first instruction of a source line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in switch statements, for loops, etc. step continues to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within the line. In other words, step steps inside any functions called within the line.

Sometimes you want to step ensure that the next line is different from the one you currently are on. To do this, add the + suffix. And if you find you want to do this all of the time there is a setting force that will have this be the default behavior. On the other hand if you want to be explicit about not having this behavior even when force is in effect add the - suffix.

With a count, continue running as in step, but do so count times. If a breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before count steps, stepping stops right away.