Lessons · Terminal · > (save output)
Sending output to a file
command > file writes the command's output into the file instead of the screen, replacing whatever the file held.
Hone is a place to practise programming. This is one of its lessons, written out in full and free to read without an account.
What it is for
Saving a report, capturing a command's output for later, making a file from a template: the arrow is how output becomes a file.
How to think about it
One arrow replaces; two arrows add. Decide which you mean before you press Enter, because one arrow cannot be undone.
Worked example
echo first > out.txtThe file holds first.
echo second > out.txtReplaced.
cat out.txtsecond: only the last write survives.
Your turn
Save the file list into files.txt.
ls files.txt
Try it at a real prompt
The trap
Redirecting into the file you are reading from: sort names.txt > names.txt empties the file before sort reads it.
Practise > (save output) on HoneA question on it now, a coding challenge where there is one, and it is remembered for review. Free, no email needed.