This guide explains Linux command I/O redirection, covering how to redirect stdout and stderr, combine streams, use /dev/null, and the importance of ordering when chaining redirections.
Understanding how the order of stdout and stderr redirection affects command output in Unix shells is crucial, as demonstrated by two nc examples where swapping redirection sequence changes whether output appears on the terminal or is silently discarded.
This article explains the purpose of the virtual device file /dev/null, how standard output and error streams work in Unix-like systems, and provides practical shell redirection techniques with concrete command examples to filter, discard, or log output as needed.
