> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://refdocs.buymeasoda.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://refdocs.buymeasoda.com/unix/useful-characters.md).

# Useful characters

Pipe to chain commands together

```
|
```

Direct output to a file

```
>
```

Append content to existing file

```
>>
```

Read content from a file

```
<
```

Shortcut for the home directory (eg. cd \~)

```
~
```

Represents the current directory

```
.
```

Traverse up one directory level (eg. cd ..)

```
..
```

Execute the script with the name script\_name

```
./script_name
```

Alternative way to executure script

```
source script_name
```

Separate long commands with a `\` at the end of each line

```
\
```

Example:

```
cd dir/name && \
somecommand && \
someothercommand
```

Join multiple commands together, but only run the second command if the first succeeds

```
&&
```

Example:

```
cd dir && touch file && echo "contents" > file
```

Join multiple commands together, but only run the second command if the first one fails

```
||
```

Example:

```
cd dir/name || mkdir dir/name
```