/Dev/null: Difference between revisions
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In [[Unix]] (and Unix-like) operating systems, the '''/dev/null''' character device file is a container that disposes all data written to it, and returns nothing when read from, except the [[EOF|End of File]] (EOF) character. Because it is located in the /dev, or device, directory, it is commonly known as the 'null device.' Other synonyms include the 'black hole' and the 'bit bucket.'<ref name="LSAG">{{cite web | |||
| url=http://www.faqs.org/docs/linux_admin/x822.html | |||
| title="The Linux System Administrator's Guide, Chapter 5" | |||
| date=Retrieved 2007-04-15 | |||
}}</ref> | |||
It is commonly used to not show the output of programs (when they are run in scripts),<ref name="LSAG"/> and 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 /> | |||
[[Category:CZ Live]] | |||
[[Category:Computers Workgroup]] | |||
Revision as of 18:57, 15 April 2007
In Unix (and Unix-like) operating systems, the /dev/null character device file is a container that disposes all data written to it, and returns nothing when read from, except the End of File (EOF) character. Because it is located in the /dev, or device, directory, it is commonly known as the 'null device.' Other synonyms include the 'black hole' and the 'bit bucket.'[1]
It is commonly used to not show the output of programs (when they are run in scripts),[1] and 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).