Dev-null: Difference between revisions
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In [[Unix]] (and Unix-like) operating systems, | In [[Unix]] (and Unix-like) operating systems, '''/dev/null''' is a character [[device file]] which discards all data written to it, and gives [[EOF|End of File]] (EOF) for all reads. Because it is located in the /dev, or device, directory, it is commonly known as the 'null device.' Synonyms include the 'black hole' and the 'bit bucket.'<ref name="LSAG">{{cite web | ||
| url=http://www.faqs.org/docs/linux_admin/x822.html | | url=http://www.faqs.org/docs/linux_admin/x822.html | ||
| title="The Linux System Administrator's Guide, Chapter 5" | | title="The Linux System Administrator's Guide, Chapter 5" | ||
| date=Retrieved 2007-04-15 | | date=Retrieved 2007-04-15 | ||
}}</ref> | }}</ref> | ||
The null device is part of the [[Unix_directory_structure| standard Unix directory structure]] | |||
It is commonly used to | It is commonly used to prevent the output of programs from appearing on the screen (usually when they are run in scripts)<ref name="LSAG"/>. It has oft been used in jokes and puns. For instance, the original [[BSD Daemon]], drawn by [[Phil Foglio]], featured a demon standing near a 'bit bucket.' Another usage would be on an internet forum or [[IRC]], when someone says something to the effect "Flames will be redirected to /dev/null." | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references /> | <references />[[Category:Suggestion Bot Tag]] | ||
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Latest revision as of 16:00, 6 August 2024
In Unix (and Unix-like) operating systems, /dev/null is a character device file which discards all data written to it, and gives End of File (EOF) for all reads. Because it is located in the /dev, or device, directory, it is commonly known as the 'null device.' Synonyms include the 'black hole' and the 'bit bucket.'[1] The null device is part of the standard Unix directory structure
It is commonly used to prevent the output of programs from appearing on the screen (usually when they are run in scripts)[1]. It has oft been used in jokes and puns. For instance, the original BSD Daemon, drawn by Phil Foglio, featured a demon standing near a 'bit bucket.' Another usage would be on an internet forum or IRC, when someone says something to the effect "Flames will be redirected to /dev/null."
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "The Linux System Administrator's Guide, Chapter 5" (Retrieved 2007-04-15).