I/O & Redirection interview questions

18 real I/O & Redirection questions from the Bash bank, as asked in Indian campus drives and tech interviews. Every question has a verified answer and an AI-tutor explanation on placd — free to start.

1. What is Standard streams?

Junior
  1. A.the notation that ties the error channel to wherever the output channel currently points, classically written as two-greater-ampersand-one
  2. B.an inline redirection that feeds a multi-line literal block into a command's input until a chosen delimiter word is reached
  3. C.the three default channels numbered zero, one, and two for input, normal output, and error messages respectively
  4. D.the vertical-bar connector that feeds one command's standard output directly into the next command's standard input
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3. Which statement is correct?

Junior
  1. A.Standard streams — sending a command's normal output into a file, where a single arrow truncates and a double arrow appends instead
  2. B.Standard streams — the vertical-bar connector that feeds one command's standard output directly into the next command's standard input
  3. C.Standard streams — the three default channels numbered zero, one, and two for input, normal output, and error messages respectively
  4. D.Standard streams — a feature that exposes a command's output or input as a temporary filename so tools expecting a path can read a stream
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4. What is Output redirection?

Junior
  1. A.the vertical-bar connector that feeds one command's standard output directly into the next command's standard input
  2. B.the three default channels numbered zero, one, and two for input, normal output, and error messages respectively
  3. C.sending a command's normal output into a file, where a single arrow truncates and a double arrow appends instead
  4. D.an inline redirection that feeds a multi-line literal block into a command's input until a chosen delimiter word is reached
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6. Which statement is correct?

Junior
  1. A.Output redirection — a feature that exposes a command's output or input as a temporary filename so tools expecting a path can read a stream
  2. B.Output redirection — the notation that ties the error channel to wherever the output channel currently points, classically written as two-greater-ampersand-one
  3. C.Output redirection — an inline redirection that feeds a multi-line literal block into a command's input until a chosen delimiter word is reached
  4. D.Output redirection — sending a command's normal output into a file, where a single arrow truncates and a double arrow appends instead
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7. What is Stderr-to-stdout merge?

Mid
  1. A.the notation that ties the error channel to wherever the output channel currently points, classically written as two-greater-ampersand-one
  2. B.an inline redirection that feeds a multi-line literal block into a command's input until a chosen delimiter word is reached
  3. C.the vertical-bar connector that feeds one command's standard output directly into the next command's standard input
  4. D.the three default channels numbered zero, one, and two for input, normal output, and error messages respectively
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8. Which term means: "the notation that ties the error channel to wherever the output channel currently points, classically written as two-greater-ampersand-one"?

Mid
  1. A.Output redirection
  2. B.Process substitution
  3. C.Standard streams
  4. D.Stderr-to-stdout merge
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9. Which statement is correct?

Mid
  1. A.Stderr-to-stdout merge — a feature that exposes a command's output or input as a temporary filename so tools expecting a path can read a stream
  2. B.Stderr-to-stdout merge — the notation that ties the error channel to wherever the output channel currently points, classically written as two-greater-ampersand-one
  3. C.Stderr-to-stdout merge — the three default channels numbered zero, one, and two for input, normal output, and error messages respectively
  4. D.Stderr-to-stdout merge — an inline redirection that feeds a multi-line literal block into a command's input until a chosen delimiter word is reached
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10. What is Pipe?

Junior
  1. A.an inline redirection that feeds a multi-line literal block into a command's input until a chosen delimiter word is reached
  2. B.the vertical-bar connector that feeds one command's standard output directly into the next command's standard input
  3. C.sending a command's normal output into a file, where a single arrow truncates and a double arrow appends instead
  4. D.the three default channels numbered zero, one, and two for input, normal output, and error messages respectively
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11. Which term means: "the vertical-bar connector that feeds one command's standard output directly into the next command's standard input"?

Junior
  1. A.Pipe
  2. B.Stderr-to-stdout merge
  3. C.Process substitution
  4. D.Standard streams
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12. Which statement is correct?

Junior
  1. A.Pipe — sending a command's normal output into a file, where a single arrow truncates and a double arrow appends instead
  2. B.Pipe — the vertical-bar connector that feeds one command's standard output directly into the next command's standard input
  3. C.Pipe — the notation that ties the error channel to wherever the output channel currently points, classically written as two-greater-ampersand-one
  4. D.Pipe — an inline redirection that feeds a multi-line literal block into a command's input until a chosen delimiter word is reached
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13. What is Here-document?

Mid
  1. A.the vertical-bar connector that feeds one command's standard output directly into the next command's standard input
  2. B.the three default channels numbered zero, one, and two for input, normal output, and error messages respectively
  3. C.an inline redirection that feeds a multi-line literal block into a command's input until a chosen delimiter word is reached
  4. D.sending a command's normal output into a file, where a single arrow truncates and a double arrow appends instead
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14. Which term means: "an inline redirection that feeds a multi-line literal block into a command's input until a chosen delimiter word is reached"?

Mid
  1. A.Pipe
  2. B.Here-document
  3. C.Standard streams
  4. D.Process substitution
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15. Which statement is correct?

Mid
  1. A.Here-document — the notation that ties the error channel to wherever the output channel currently points, classically written as two-greater-ampersand-one
  2. B.Here-document — the vertical-bar connector that feeds one command's standard output directly into the next command's standard input
  3. C.Here-document — sending a command's normal output into a file, where a single arrow truncates and a double arrow appends instead
  4. D.Here-document — an inline redirection that feeds a multi-line literal block into a command's input until a chosen delimiter word is reached
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16. What is Process substitution?

Senior
  1. A.an inline redirection that feeds a multi-line literal block into a command's input until a chosen delimiter word is reached
  2. B.sending a command's normal output into a file, where a single arrow truncates and a double arrow appends instead
  3. C.the notation that ties the error channel to wherever the output channel currently points, classically written as two-greater-ampersand-one
  4. D.a feature that exposes a command's output or input as a temporary filename so tools expecting a path can read a stream
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17. Which term means: "a feature that exposes a command's output or input as a temporary filename so tools expecting a path can read a stream"?

Senior
  1. A.Standard streams
  2. B.Output redirection
  3. C.Process substitution
  4. D.Pipe
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18. Which statement is correct?

Senior
  1. A.Process substitution — a feature that exposes a command's output or input as a temporary filename so tools expecting a path can read a stream
  2. B.Process substitution — the three default channels numbered zero, one, and two for input, normal output, and error messages respectively
  3. C.Process substitution — the vertical-bar connector that feeds one command's standard output directly into the next command's standard input
  4. D.Process substitution — the notation that ties the error channel to wherever the output channel currently points, classically written as two-greater-ampersand-one
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