Can I assign a string that ends with a multiple whitespace line in a bash shell variable? -

i got problem storing lines in bash shell variable.

there file contains string this.

$ vim a.txt ------we-are-in-vim------ first line second line   -------end-of-file------- 

this file has 2 empty lines placed on end of it.

when cat file, can see blank printed!

$ cat a.txt first line second line   $ 

well. now, can imagine can put in bash variable.

let's try!

$ var=`cat a.txt` $ echo "${var}" first line second line $  

ok. did not rap cat command's output double quotation! ;)

$ var="`cat a.txt`" $ echo "${var}" first line second line $   

ok. let's try printf built-in variable assignment feature!

$ printf -v var "`cat a.txt`" $ echo "${var}" first line second line $ 

....ok let's try mapfile command!

$ mapfile < a.txt var $ printf '%s' "${var[@]}" first line second line   $  

the mapfile command worked, same cat!

$ var2=`printf '%s' "${var[@]}"` $ echo "${var2}" first line second line $ 

i have tried 'changing ifs nothing' in bash,

but result same!

how can assign string has 2 empty lines on end of it, bash variable?

it because how command-substitution in bash works!

see man bash except under command substitution

command substitution allows output of command replace command name. there 2 forms:

$(command)

`command`

[..] bash performs expansion executing command , replacing command substitution standard output of command with trailing newlines deleted. [..]