Which form redirects both standard output and standard error to the same file in a Bash shell?

• A. command > File 2>&1
• B. command 2> File
• C. command > File
• D. command &> File

Answer: (D)

Redirecting both standard output and standard error to the same file in Bash uses a single, concise redirection that covers both streams at once. The &> operator tells Bash to duplicate both file descriptors (1 for stdout and 2 for stderr) into the target file, so all output lands in that file regardless of which stream produced it. This approach is straightforward and less error-prone than mixing separate redirections or needing a specific order.

Other forms can achieve the same result but require more care. For example, redirecting stdout to a file and then redirecting stderr to the same destination (command > File 2>&1) does work, but it depends on the order of redirections being exactly right; a small mistake can send one stream elsewhere. Redirecting only one stream (command > File or command 2> File) does not send both streams to the file, only stdout or only stderr respectively.