:() {: |: &} ;: Forkbomb?

Question

Possible duplicate:
The following bash command will invoke processes until the kernel dies. Can you explain the syntax?

:(){ :|:& };: 

running this fork () is unlimited. Can anyone explain this bash script?

Answer 1

You define a function named : Inside this function, you call this function twice ( :|: , and then send this process to the background ( & ). Then you finally name it at the end.

Due to the recursive nature, you will continue to branch out. Since there is no base case, recursion will never end.