---
name: "null"
section: "4"
platform: "openbsd"
package: "man"
version: "8.0-current-20261101"
release: "OpenBSD 8.0-current (2026-11-01)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "openbsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/null/4"
---

# null(4)

the null device

## 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)](/zero/4.md)

## 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.