Linux Pocket Guide, 2nd Edition

Input and Output

Most Linux commands accept input and produce output. Input can come from files or from standard input, which is usually your keyboard. Likewise, output is written to files or to standard output, which is usually your shell window or screen. Error messages are treated specially and displayed on standard error, which also is usually your screen but kept separate from standard output.^[2] Later we’ll see how to redirect standard input, output, and error to and from files or pipes. But let’s get our vocabulary straight. When we say a command “reads,” we mean from standard input unless we say otherwise. And when a command “writes” or “prints,” we mean on standard output, unless we’re talking about computer printers.

^[2] For example, you can capture standard output in a file and still have standard error messages appear on screen.