Quick Tip

Taming Terminal Noise: Unified Logging with `2>&1`

Challenge: When running commands or scripts that produce both standard output (stdout) and standard error (stderr), it can be difficult to manage and analyze these separate streams, especially when redirecting them to files or pipes.

The Solution: Redirecting both standard error and standard output to a single stream using the `2>&1` redirection operator.

command_that_produces_output_and_errors &> output_and_errors.log

Why it works: The `&>` operator is a shorthand for `> … 2>&1`, which means it redirects both stdout (file descriptor 1) and stderr (file descriptor 2) to the specified file (or pipe). This ensures all output, regardless of its origin, is captured in one place.

Pro-Tip: For even more granular control or to append to an existing log, you can use separate redirections: command > output.log 2>> error.log

Linux Tips & Tricks | © ngelinux.com | 6/27/2026