Output Redirection in Linux

Output redirection allows you to control where command output goes, such as sending it to a file instead of the screen.

Standard Output (stdout) Redirection

Redirect output to a file (overwrite)

command > file.txt

• Example

  ls > list.txt

  Overwrites list.txt with the output of ls.

Redirect output to a file (append)

command >> file.txt

• Example

  echo "Log entry" >> log.txt

  Appends to log.txt without overwriting existing content.

Standard Error (stderr) Redirection

Redirect errors only

command 2> error.txt

• Example

  ls nofile 2> errors.txt

  Stores only the error message in errors.txt.

Append errors

command 2>> error.txt

Redirect Both stdout and stderr

To the same file (overwrite)

command > output.txt 2>&1

OR (bash shorthand)

command &> output.txt

To the same file (append)

command >> output.txt 2>&1

OR

command &>> output.txt

Discard Output

Discard stdout

command > /dev/null

Discard stderr

command 2> /dev/null

Discard both stdout and stderr

command > /dev/null 2>&1

Summary Table