Making sense of {print x}{x=$0} 1

[moonring]

Hi,

I'm trying this awk one-liner:

Input

aaa
bbb
ccc

awk '/bbb/{print x}{x=$0}' file

Output

aaa

So this code prints always the previous line, of the line where the pattern /bbb/ is found.
I'm trying to make sense of it, but it seems difficult. It looks like when /bbb/ is found, x in x=$0 should be set to the record where /bbb/ is found, instead x=$0 is set to the previous record. Counterintuitive ?

Any idea why is this so ?

 

[PHV]

When /bbb/ is found, x is printed before to be set to the current $0.

Hope This Helps, PH.
FAQ219-2884
FAQ181-2886

 

[moonring]

Thanks a lot PHV, now it's clear.