${(e)…}: Single word shell expansion

(e) performs single word shell expansion on the variable value.

It performs parameter expansion, command substitution, and arithmetic expansion.

Links

• Zsh manual on parameter expansion flags
• Zsh manual on parameter expansion
• Zsh manual on command substitution
• Zsh manual on arithmetic expansion

Examples

Evaluate shell expansions

1 2	expression='User ${USER} has home $HOME' echo "'$expression' is expanded into '${(e)expression}'"

Output:

1	'User ${USER} has home $HOME' is expanded into 'User username has home /home/username'