&sq=Google&lang=en&file=File:Ln-example-command.gif) Example usage of ln utility | |
| Original author(s) | AT&T Bell Laboratories |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Various open-source and commercial developers |
| Initial release | November 3, 1971 |
| Operating system | Unix, Unix-like, IBM i |
| Platform | Cross-platform |
| Type | Command |
| License | coreutils: GPLv3+ |
The ln command is a standard Unix command utility used to create a hard link or a symbolic link (symlink) to an existing file or directory.[1] The use of a hard link allows multiple filenames to be associated with the same file since a hard link points to the inode of a given file, the data of which is stored on disk. On the other hand, symbolic links are special files that refer to other files by name.[2]
The ln command by default creates hard links, and when called with the command line parameter ln -s creates symbolic links.[3] Most operating systems prevent hard links to directories from being created since such a capability could disrupt the structure of a file system and interfere with the operation of other utilities.[4] The ln command can however be used to create symbolic links to non-existent files.[2]
- ^ Kernighan, Brian W.; Pike, Rob (1984). The Unix programming environment. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall. p. 59. ISBN 013937681X.
- ^ a b "GNU Coreutils: ln invocation". gnu.org. Free Software Foundation, Inc. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
- ^ "ln - The Open Group Base Specifications Issue 7". pubs.opengroup.org. The IEEE and The Open Group. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
- ^ "Why are hard links not allowed to directories in UNIX/Linux?". unix.stackexchange.com. Retrieved 7 August 2015.