ln, link

Make hard links and symbolic links.
`ln' creates a new directory entry (linked file) with 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. How a link `points' to a file is one of the differences between a hard and symbolic link.

SYNTAX
      ln [-fhinsv] source_file [target_file]

      ln [-fhinsv] source_file ... target_dir

      link source_file target_file

OPTIONS

     -f	   If the target file already exists, then unlink it so that the link
	   may occur.  (The -f option overrides any previous -i options.)

     -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 ln 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 ln implementations.

     -s	   Create a symbolic link.

     -v	   Cause ln to be verbose, showing files as they are processed.

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 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, 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.

"God shows his contempt for wealth by the kind of person he selects to receive it" - Austin O'Malley

Related commands:

pathchk - Check file name portability
symlink - Make a new name for a file

Equivalent BASH command:

ln - Create links.