var=abc123dcba123 echo ${var/d/x} echo ${var/c/x} echo ${var//c/x} echo ${var/[123]/x} echo ${var//[123]/x} echo ${var/c*/x} echo ${var/*c/x} # must match longest match: result is "abx23" echo ${var/c*1/x} # empty replacement - 2nd slash can be omitted echo ${var/[123]} echo ${var//[123]} ### ash doesn't support ### # match only at the beginning: ### echo ${var/#a/x} ### echo ${var/#b/x} # should not match ### echo ${var//#b/x} # should not match ### # match only at the end: ### echo ${var/%3/x}