LN(1) NetBSD Reference Manual LN(1)
NAME
ln - make links
SYNOPSIS
ln [-fhns] source_file [target_file] ln [-fhns] 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. The options are as follows: -f Unlink any already existing file, permitting the link to occur. -h If the target_file or target_dir is a symbolic link, do not follow it. This is most useful with the -f option, to replace a symlink which may point to a directory. -n Same as -h, for compatibility with other ln implementations. -s Create a symbolic link. By default ln makes hard links. A hard link to a file is indistinguish- able from the original directory entry; any changes to a file are effec- tive 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. The referenced file is used when an open(2) operation is performed on the link. A stat(2) on a symbolic link will return the linked-to file; an lstat(2) must be done to obtain information about the link. The readlink(2) call may be used to read the contents of a symbolic link. 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 speci- fied, 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.
SEE ALSO
link(2), lstat(2), readlink(2), stat(2), symlink(2), symlink(7)
HISTORY
A ln utility appeared in Version 6 AT&T UNIX. NetBSD 1.5 December 30, 1993 1
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