ln - Link files

ln [-fs] source_file [target_file]

ln [-fs] source_file ... [target_dir]

Description

The ln utility creates a new directory entry (linked file) which has the same modes as the original file. It is useful for maintaining multiple copies of a file in many places at once without using up storage for the copies. Instead, a link "points to" the original copy. There are two types of links: hard links and symbolic links. How a link "points to" a file is one of the differences between a hard or symbolic link.

By default ln makes hard links. A hard link to a file is indistinguishable from the original directory entry; any changes to a file are effective independent of the name used to reference the file. Hard links may not normally refer to directories and may not span file systems.

A symbolic link contains the name of the file to which it is linked. Symbolic links may span file systems and may refer to directories.

Given one or two arguments, ln creates a link to an existing file source_file. If target_file is given, the link has that name. Target_file may also be a directory in which to place the link. Otherwise it is placed in the current directory. If only the directory is specified, the link will be made to the last component of source_file.

Given more than two arguments, ln makes links in target_dir to all the named source files. The links made will have the same name as the files being linked to.

Options

-f

Unlink any already existing file, permitting the link to occur.

-s

Create a symbolic link.

Exit Status

• 0 when success
• >0 when an error occurs

Related information

• cp - Copy files
• ls - List directory contents
• mv - Move files
• rm - Remove directory entries
• rmdir - Remove directories

1. Create a symbolic link from the file, "/usr/bin/perl5" to the file "/usr/bin/perl".

   ln -s /usr/bin/perl5 /usr/bin/perl
   

2. Create a new link from the file "/usr/bin/qsh" to the file "/bin/qsh" and unlink the file "/bin/qsh" if it exists.

   ln -f /usr/bin/qsh /bin/qsh