[PLUG] Splitting strings in bash

[Walt Mankowski via plug <plug@lists.phillylinux.org>]

Hi all,

I've got a question about splitting strings in a bash shell
script. Let's say I've got a string

STR='dog cat'

I'd like to split that on the space into two variables, foo and bar. I
tried this

echo $STR | read foo bar

but it doesn't work. On the following line foo and bar are back to
their original values. Then, after looking through the bash manpage
for an alternative, I tried this instead

read foo bar <<< $STR

That DID work!

So that solves my problem, but I'm still confused. Those two commands
seem to me like they should be identical. Why doesn't the first one work?

Walt
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