Why is my variable local in one 'while read' loop, but not in another seemingly similar loop?

Why do I get different values for $x$x from the snippets below?

#!/bin/bash x=1 echo fred>junkfred > junk ; while read var ; do x=55 ; done <junk< junk echo x=$x # x=55 .. I'd expect this result x=1 cat junk | while read var ; do x=55 ; done echo x=$x # x=1 .. but why? x=1 echo fred | while read var ; do x=55 ; done echo x=$x # x=1 .. but why?

Why is my variable local one 'while read' loop, but not in another seemingly similar loop?

Why do I get different values for $x from the snippets below?

#!/bin/bash x=1 echo fred>junk ; while read var ; do x=55 ; done <junk echo x=$x # x=55 .. I'd expect this result x=1 cat junk | while read var ; do x=55 ; done echo x=$x # x=1 .. but why? x=1 echo fred | while read var ; do x=55 ; done echo x=$x # x=1 .. but why?

Why is my variable local in one 'while read' loop, but not in another seemingly similar loop?

Why do I get different values for $x from the snippets below?

#!/bin/bash x=1 echo fred > junk ; while read var ; do x=55 ; done < junk echo x=$x # x=55 .. I'd expect this result x=1 cat junk | while read var ; do x=55 ; done echo x=$x # x=1 .. but why? x=1 echo fred | while read var ; do x=55 ; done echo x=$x # x=1 .. but why?