4.3.9 Return value of the command

Each command returns its exit status as the return value.

• return value = 0 if the command executes successfully.

• return value = non-zero if the command exits with error.

This return value can be accessed by the $? shell variable immediately after the execution.

     $ [ 1 = 1 ] ; echo $?
     0
     $ [ 1 = 2 ] ; echo $?
     1

Please note that, when the return value is used in the logical context for the shell, success is treated as the logical TRUE. This is somewhat non-intuitive since success bears value zero.

See Shell conditionals, Section 13.2.5.