#1361·sh

zsh: multiple parameter subscripts fail to parse

Author: w2w2-2Created Jul 19, 2026Updated Jul 23, 2026

Labelszsh

The following valid Zsh syntax fails to parse:

bash

var=(foo)
echo ${var[1][2]}

bash

$ shfmt --version
v3.13.2-0.20260718060058-20744fb2d3e9

$ printf '%s\n' 'var=(foo)' 'echo ${var[1][2]}' | shfmt -ln=zsh
<standard input>:2:14: not a valid parameter expansion operator: `[`

Zsh accepts the same input and prints o.

See Zsh docs: Parameter subscripting, which uses ${var[1][2]} as an example.

Source: mvdan/sh

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