.env-substitution

VAR=one
VAR_2=two

# Non-existing values are replaced with an empty string
RESULT=$NOPE #value: '' (empty string)

# All the letters after $ symbol are treated as the variable name to replace
RESULT=$VAR #value: 'one'

# Double quotes do not affect the substitution
RESULT="$VAR" #value: 'one'

# Different syntax, same result 
RESULT=${VAR} #value: 'one'

# Curly braces are useful in cases when we need to use a variable with non-alphanumeric name
RESULT=$VAR_2 #value: 'one_2' since $ with no curly braces stops after first non-alphanumeric symbol 
RESULT=${VAR_2} #value: 'two'

# The replacement can be escaped with either single quotes or a backslash:
RESULT='$VAR' #value: '$VAR'
RESULT=\$VAR #value: '$VAR'

# Environment variables are used in the substutution and always override the local variables
RESULT=$PATH #value: the contents of the $PATH environment variable
PATH="My local variable value"
RESULT=$PATH #value: the contents of the $PATH environment variable, even though the local variable is defined