I/O redirection in Linux

Linux follows the philosophy that every thing is a file. For example, a keyboard, monitor, mouse, printer .... you name it and it is classified as a file in Linux. Each of these pieces of hardware have got unique file descriptors associated with it. Now this nomenclature has got its own advantages. The main one being you can use all the common command line tools you have in Linux to send, receive or manipulate data with these devices.