Dev-null: Difference between revisions

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The null device is part of the [[Unix_directory_structure| standard Unix directory structure]]
The null device is part of the [[Unix_directory_structure| standard Unix directory structure]]


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."
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==
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<references />

Latest revision as of 11:12, 20 August 2009

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This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.
Due to technical limitations, this article uses an unusual title. It should be called  /dev/null.

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