Answer by cuonglm for What is the difference between $* and $@?

Here is a simple script to demonstrates the difference between $* and $@:

#!/bin/bash

test_param() {
  echo "Receive $# parameters"
  echo Using '$*'

  echo
  for param in $*; do
    printf '==>%s<==\n' "$param"
  done;

  echo
  echo Using '"$*"'
  for param in "$*"; do
    printf '==>%s<==\n' "$param"
  done;

  echo
  echo Using '$@'
  for param in $@; do
    printf '==>%s<==\n' "$param"
  done;

  echo
  echo Using '"$@"';
  for param in "$@"; do
  printf '==>%s<==\n' "$param"
  done
}

IFS="^${IFS}"

test_param 1 2 3 "a b c"

Output:

% cuonglm at ~
% bash test.sh
Receive 4 parameters

Using $*
==>1<==
==>2<==
==>3<==
==>a<==
==>b<==
==>c<==

Using "$*"
==>1^2^3^a b c<==

Using $@
==>1<==
==>2<==
==>3<==
==>a<==
==>b<==
==>c<==

Using "$@"
==>1<==
==>2<==
==>3<==
==>a b c<==

In array syntax, there is no difference when using $* or $@. It only make sense when you use them with double quotes "$*" and "$@".