What is the use of "&>>" in bash?

Question

I was studying a bash script code where I encountered operator "&>>". I didn't understand its use. So, I referred to http://www.gnu.org/software/bash/manual/html_node/Redirections.html .

It is semantically equivalent to >> file 2>&1 .

Following is the output from my shell :-

# echo $SHELL
/bin/bash
# echo "hello" &>> file1
bash: syntax error near unexpected token `>'

and

# echo "hello" >> file1 2>&1

# cat file1 

hello

Question :- Why am I getting error bash: syntax error near unexpected token '>' ?

[EDIT] :- Bash version 3.2.25(1)-release (x86_64-redhat-linux-gnu)

What version of Bash are you using? Some of these features are only available in newer versions of Bash. — slm
– slm ♦, Commented Oct 29, 2013 at 14:57
BTW, this works for me, bash --version = 4.1.7(1)-release (x86_64-redhat-linux-gnu). — slm
– slm ♦, Commented Oct 29, 2013 at 15:00

Radu Rădeanu · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-29 15:18:36Z

4

You are getting that error because you using an older version of bash (3.2.25).

Since Bash4, there's &>>TARGET, which is equivalent to >> TARGET 2>&1.

So, you should take in consideration an upgrade. I use bash version 4.2.45 and echo "hello" &>> file1 works like a charm for me.

answered Oct 29, 2013 at 15:10

Radu Rădeanu

1,8132 gold badges24 silver badges47 bronze badges

Jander · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-29 15:55:35Z

2

This feature was introduced in bash 4.0 alpha, so it should be available in any bash >= 4.0.

(The original 4.0-alpha changelog mis-reported the operator as >>&. The man page shows the correct &>>, and the typo was corrected in 4.1.)

answered Oct 29, 2013 at 15:55

Jander

17.1k6 gold badges56 silver badges67 bronze badges

2 Answers 2