LN(1) MachTen Reference Manual LN(1)

NAME
ln - make links

SYNOPSIS
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.

The options are as follows:

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

-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 read-
link(2) call may be used to read the contents of a symbolic link. Sym-
bolic 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.

SEE ALSO
link(2), lstat(2), readlink(2), stat(2), symlink(2), symlink(7)

HISTORY
A ln command appeared in Version 6 AT&T UNIX.

4th Berkeley Distribution December 30, 1993 1