read built-in.

Interactive way of assigning values to variables.

A Practical Guide to Linux  pp. 477-479, 479-480

Use read to get input from user and assign it to a variable.
  # -n surpresses line feed on the echo
  # reads input from keyboard until [cr] and assign to variable food.
  echo -n "Feed me : "; read food
  read food

  echo $food



Multiple variables allowed.
Uses IFS to separate input for variable assignment.
Does not recognize quoted strings as single argument.
But backslash can be used to denature space.
Assigns one string per variable.
Last variable receives all 'left over' words/strings.
Unused variables created but assigned null.