The
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 and symbolic link.
The options are as follows:
-f
If the target file already exists,
then unlink it so that the link may occur.
(The
-f
option overrides any previous
-i
options.)
-F
If the target file already exists and is a directory, then remove it
so that the link may occur.
The
-F
option should be used with either
-f
or
-i
options.
If none is specified,
-f
is implied.
The
-F
option is a no-op unless
-s
option is specified.
-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.
-i
Cause
to write a prompt to standard error if the target file exists.
If the response from the standard input begins with the character
`y
'
or
`Y
'
then unlink the target file so that the link may occur.
Otherwise, do not attempt the link.
(The
-i
option overrides any previous
-f
options.)
-n
Same as
-h
for compatibility with other
implementations.
-s
Create a symbolic link.
-v
Cause
to be verbose, showing files as they are processed.
By default,
makes
hard
links.
A hard link to a file is indistinguishable from the original directory entry;
any changes to a file are effectively 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,
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,
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.
When the utility is called as
link
exactly two arguments must be supplied,
neither of which may specify a directory.
No options may be supplied in this simple mode of operation,
which performs a
link(2)
operation using the two passed arguments.
COMPATIBILITY
The
-h
-i
-n
and
-v
options are non-standard and their use in scripts is not recommended.
They are provided solely for compatibility with other
implementations.
The
-F
option is
Fx extention and should not be used in portable scripts.
