validAlphaNum(){
compressed="$(echo $1 | sed -e 's/[^[:alnum:]]//g')"
if [ "$compressed" != "$1" ]; then
return 1
else
return 0
fi
}
echo -n "Enter input: "
read input
if ! validAlphaNum "$input" ; then
echo "Your input must consist of only letters and numbers." >&2
exit 1
else
echo "Input is valid."
fi
exit 0
$ ./validalphanum.sh
Enter input: 1
Input is valid.
$ ./validalphanum.sh
Enter input: a
Input is valid.
$ ./validalphanum.sh
Enter input: ;
Your input must consist of only letters and numbers.