null(4)

the null device

linux
freebsd
openbsd
macos

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

full(4), zero(4)

HISTORY

A null device appeared in Version 4 AT&T UNIX.

History

FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27) to FreeBSD 15.0-RELEASE: the text shown here
FreeBSD 14.5-RELEASE to FreeBSD 13.3-RELEASE
FreeBSD 13.2-RELEASE to FreeBSD 13.0-RELEASE
FreeBSD 12.4-RELEASE
FreeBSD 12.3-RELEASE
FreeBSD 12.2-RELEASE
FreeBSD 12.1-RELEASE
FreeBSD 12.0-RELEASE
FreeBSD 11.4-RELEASE
FreeBSD 11.3-RELEASE
FreeBSD 11.2-RELEASE
FreeBSD 11.1-RELEASE
FreeBSD 11.0-RELEASE
FreeBSD 10.4-RELEASE
FreeBSD 10.3-RELEASE
FreeBSD 10.2-RELEASE
FreeBSD 10.1-RELEASE
FreeBSD 10.0-RELEASE
FreeBSD 9.3-RELEASE
FreeBSD 9.2-RELEASE
FreeBSD 9.1-RELEASE
FreeBSD 9.0-RELEASE
FreeBSD 8.4-RELEASE
FreeBSD 8.3-RELEASE
FreeBSD 8.2-RELEASE
FreeBSD 8.1-RELEASE
FreeBSD 8.0-RELEASE
FreeBSD 7.4-RELEASE
FreeBSD 7.3-RELEASE
FreeBSD 7.2-RELEASE
FreeBSD 7.1-RELEASE
FreeBSD 7.0-RELEASE
FreeBSD 6.4-RELEASE
FreeBSD 6.3-RELEASE to FreeBSD 5.3-RELEASE
FreeBSD 5.2.1-RELEASE to FreeBSD 5.0-RELEASE
FreeBSD 4.11-RELEASE to FreeBSD 4.3-RELEASE
FreeBSD 4.2-RELEASE to FreeBSD 4.0-RELEASE
FreeBSD 3.5.1-RELEASE to FreeBSD 3.5-RELEASE
FreeBSD 3.4-RELEASE to FreeBSD 3.3-RELEASE
FreeBSD 3.2-RELEASE to FreeBSD 3.0-RELEASE
FreeBSD 2.2.9-RELEASE
FreeBSD 2.2.8-RELEASE to FreeBSD 2.2.2-RELEASE
FreeBSD 2.1.7.1-RELEASE to FreeBSD 2.1.5-RELEASE
FreeBSD 2.0.5-RELEASE