NULL(4)

✨ NULL(4) — the null device ✨

okay bestie, welcome to the Kernel Interfaces Manual, section 4, and today's main character is literally the most chill device on your whole system 💅

🌸 NAME 🌸

null — the null device 🕳️✨

🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

so here's the vibe: the null device accepts data and reads data exactly like any ordinary (and willing) file would — no drama, no complaints, it's giving perfect manners 🎀

but — and this is the whole personality — it throws it all away. every single byte. gone. poof. not stored, not saved, not even a little bit 🙈

and the length of the null device? always zero. always. forever. no cap. 📏

🎀 FILES 🎀

• /dev/null

🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

• full(4)
• zero(4)

👑 HISTORY 👑

a null device appeared in Version 4 AT&T UNIX — so yeah, this icon has been iconic since way before you were born fr fr 🫶

and that's the whole page, bestie!! this one came from the Debian folks, dated August 30, 2019 💖 now go yeet something into /dev/null and feel the power 🌸✨