Standard input and output

The standard input device, also referred to as stdin, is the device from which input to the system is taken. Typically this is the keyboard, but you can specify that input is to come from a serial port or a disk file, for example. The standard output device, also referred to as stdout, is the device to which output from the system is sent. Typically this is a display, but you can redirect output to a serial port or a file.

On operating-system commands and IBM® MQ control commands, the < operator redirects input. If this operator is followed by a file name, input is taken from the file. Similarly, the > operator redirects output; if this operator is followed by a file name, output is directed to that file.