Identify format and encoding
Check the documented output mode and whether the command can emit JSON, plain text, or a file instead of a binary stream. For text, confirm encoding and locale; interpreting bytes with the wrong encoding can make valid data look damaged.
Progress bars, color codes, and carriage-return updates can appear as clutter when output is captured non-interactively. Disable those options when supported, or use structured output designed for logs.
Handle data without losing information
Save binary output to a file and inspect it with an appropriate viewer or parser instead of printing it. When converting text, preserve an untouched copy so you can compare original bytes if decoding is uncertain.
For automation, request a stable machine-readable format and check the exit status separately from printed text. Do not strip arbitrary characters until you know whether they are control codes or meaningful data.