> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.syntblaze.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Bash Logical OR
The `||` (logical OR) operator is a control operator in Bash that executes a subsequent command only if the preceding command terminates with a non-zero exit status (failure). It utilizes short-circuit evaluation to dictate execution flow based on process return codes.
```bash theme={"dark"}
command1 || command2
```
## Execution Mechanics
Bash evaluates the expression strictly from left to right:
1. `command1` is executed.
2. If `command1` returns an exit status of `0` (success), short-circuiting occurs. `command2` is ignored, and the overall exit status of the list is `0`.
3. If `command1` returns a non-zero exit status (failure), `command2` is executed. The overall exit status of the list becomes the exit status of `command2`.
## Chaining Commands
Multiple `||` operators can be chained. Due to left associativity, Bash evaluates the chain sequentially until one command returns `0`.
```bash theme={"dark"}
command1 || command2 || command3
```
If `command1` fails, `command2` executes. If `command2` succeeds, `command3` is skipped. The chain terminates evaluation as soon as a single command yields a `0` exit status.
## Precedence and Grouping
The `||` operator shares equal precedence with the `&&` (logical AND) operator. When mixed in a single list without grouping, they are evaluated strictly left-to-right. To override default precedence, commands must be grouped using braces (executing in the current shell context) or parentheses (executing in a subshell context).
```bash theme={"dark"}
# Default left-to-right evaluation
command1 || command2 && command3
# Grouped evaluation overriding default precedence
command1 || { command2 && command3; }
```
## Interaction with `set -e` (errexit)
When the `set -e` shell option is enabled, Bash normally exits immediately if a pipeline returns a non-zero status. However, if a failing command is part of an `||` list (specifically, any command except the final one in the chain), the `errexit` rule is suppressed. The shell will not exit, allowing the right-hand command to handle the failure state.
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