bash - How can I use a variable that contains a space?

Question

I have the following files:

~/tmp/testbash$ l
file 1.test  move.sh*

where move.sh is:

#!/bin/bash
#-x

FILENAME='file .test'
echo $FILENAME
echo joo
mv $FILENAME test.test

When I run ./move.sh, I get this output and error:

file .test
joo
mv: target `test.test' is not a directory

The problem is that it executes the command as:

mv file .test test.test

and not as:

mv file .test test.test

How can I fix this?

Answer 1

If the variable contains embedded spaces, then bracket the variable in double quotes (").

FILENAME='file .test'
mv "$FILENAME" test.test