I/O Redirection concept in bash script

​For background:

• a number 1 = standard out (i.e. STDOUT)
• a number 2 = standard error (i.e. STDERR)
• if a number isn't explicitly given, then number 1 is assumed by the shell (bash)

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First let's tackle the function of these. For reference see the Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide.

Functions

2>&-

The general form of this one is M>&-, where "M" is a file descriptor number. This will close output for whichever file descriptor is referenced, i.e. "M".

2>/dev/null

The general form of this one is M>/dev/null, where "M" is a file descriptor number. This will redirect the file descriptor, "M", to /dev/null.

2>&1

The general form of this one is M>&N, where "M" & "N" are file descriptor numbers. It combines the output of file descriptors "M" and "N" into a single stream.

|&

This is just an abbreviation for 2>&1 |. It was added in Bash 4.

&>/dev/null

This is just an abbreviation for >/dev/null 2>&1. It redirects file descriptor 2 (STDERR) and descriptor 1 (STDOUT) to /dev/null.

>/dev/null

This is just an abbreviation for 1>/dev/null. It redirects file descriptor 1 (STDOUT) to /dev/null.

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