Redirection is usually implemented by placing certain [[token (parser)|characters]] between [[command (computing)|commands]].
===Basic===
Typically, the [[syntax]] of these characters is as follows, using <code><</code> to redirect input, and <code>></code> to redirect output. <syntaxhighlight lang="bash" inline>command1 > file1</syntaxhighlight> executes <tt>command1</tt>, placing the output in <tt>file1</tt>, as opposed to displaying it at the terminal, which is the usual destination for standard output. This will [[Clobbering|clobber]] any existing data in <tt>file1</tt>.
Using <syntaxhighlight lang="bash" inline>command1 < file1</syntaxhighlight> executes <tt>command1</tt>, with <tt>file1</tt> as the source of input, as opposed to the [[Computer keyboard|keyboard]], which is the usual source for standard input.
<syntaxhighlight lang="bash" inline>command1 < infile > outfile</syntaxhighlight> combines the two capabilities: <tt>command1</tt> reads from <tt>infile</tt> and writes to <tt>outfile</tt>
