BEGIN{ A[ "any index" ] = 1 # any number for ( i in A ) { v = A[ i ] gensub( /^/, "1", 1, v ) #gsub( /^dfsdfs/, "1", v ) #sub( /^/, "1", v ) if ( typeof( A[ i ] ) == "unknown" ) print "ERROR: A[ " i " ] == " A[ i ] "'" } v = A[ "any index" ] print typeof( v ) } # GNU Awk 5.1.0, API: 3.0 (GNU MPFR 3.1.5, GNU MP 6.1.2) # Copyright (C) 1989, 1991-2020 Free Software Foundation. # # Windows 10x64 # # here is the typeof() error reproducing script # it is actual for: gensub(), gsub() and sub() built-ins # # please pay attention that: v = A[ i ] is doesn't matter # you may apply built-ins at A[ i ] directly with the same # result # # with Respect # # Denis Shirokov (2021.9.5)