![]() To show the contents of a symlink, use the Linux ls command: ls -l symlink-directory Making a symlink without the -f switch, using a sympath-name that is already in use, results in the command failing. The -f switch automatically removes any conflicting symlink-filepath files or symlinks if there is a conflict. This results in the old symlink’s contents being replaced with the new. To prevent chain loops from overloading the system, Linux limits the number of hops through a symlink chain to 40. In both cases, the target remains untouched. When you unlink an intermediate symlink, you break the chain. When you unlink the head of a symlink chain, you remove only that symlink. The Linux system progresses down such a chain of symlinks to get to the final object. Symlinks can be used in special cases where the symlink points to another symlink. Use of symlinks can simplify the installation or update of an application or file system tree. Soft links make restoring backups easier than doing so with hard links. The Linux system reads the symlink’s file path to reach the target. Think of it as a signpost pointing to where the target file can be found. The symlink (AKA soft link) is a referrer rather than an alias. ![]() See the man page for the ln utility for details, particularly limitations on creating and removing hard links. A hard link creates an alias, or an associated name with the same inode number. Entries in a Linux directory associate a name, for example “config”, with an inode number. These describe the details of files and other objects, including where on the disk any associated data is stored. A disk’s file system has a number of control blocks called inodes. It is easy to confuse a symlink with a hard link. symlink - see Chains of Soft Links belowĪlso known as a “soft link” in Linux, the term “shortcut” describes symlinks in other operating systems.What is a Symlink?Ī symlink is a type of special file whose “data” is a path to the name of a file system object, which could be a: Symlinks are a vital tool to file management and organization. This limits visibility in a more complex manner than the file system permissions system permits. Multiple directories each owned by a user can reference a subset of a set of files. Symlinks also provide a way to manage access. Any changes can be made in one place, instead of modifying many copies. Using symlinks minimizes the necessity of having multiple copies of a file within a system. A symbolic link, or symlink, creates a name that references another file, directory, or other Linux file system object.
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