NULL(4) | Device Drivers Manual | NULL(4)

# NAME

`null` — the null device

# DESCRIPTION

The `null` device accepts and reads data as any ordinary (and willing) file, but throws it away. The length of the `null` device is always zero.

# FILES

/dev/null

# SEE ALSO

zero(4)

# HISTORY

`null` first appeared in Version 4 AT&T UNIX as an empty file, /dev/null, which returned end of file when being read from. An implementation which could also be written to first appeared in Version 5 AT&T UNIX.

August 31, 2019 | Debian