2.11BSD#431 - /usr/man/cat1/ln.0

LN(1)		    UNIX Programmer's Manual		    LN(1)


NAME
     ln - make links

SYNOPSIS
     ln [ -s ] sourcename [ targetname ]
     ln [ -s ] sourcename1 sourcename2 [ sourcename3 ... ] tar-
     getdirectory

DESCRIPTION
     A link is a directory entry referring to a file; the same
     file (together with its size, all its protection informa-
     tion, etc.) may have several links to it.	There are two
     kinds of links: hard links and symbolic links.

     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 span file systems
     and may not refer to directories.

     The -s option causes ln to create symbolic links.	A sym-
     bolic link contains the name of the file to which it is
     linked.  The referenced file is used when an open(2) opera-
     tion 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 sourcename.  If targetname is given, the link has that
     name; targetname 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 sourcename.

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

SEE ALSO
     rm(1), cp(1), mv(1), link(2), readlink(2), stat(2), sym-
     link(2)


Printed 11/26/99	 April 10, 1986                         1