| --backup | make a backup of each existing destination file |
| -b | like --backup but does not accept an argument |
| -d-F--directory | allow the superuser to attempt to hard link directories (this will probably fail due to system restrictions, even for the superuser) |
| -f--force | remove existing destination files |
| -i--interactive | prompt whether to remove destinations |
| -L--logical | dereference TARGETs that are symbolic links |
| -n--no-dereference | treat LINK_NAME as a normal file if it is a symbolic link to a directory |
| -P--physical | make hard links directly to symbolic links |
| -r--relative | with -s, create links relative to link location |
| -s--symbolic | make symbolic links instead of hard links |
| -S--suffix | override the usual backup suffix |
| -t--target-directory | specify the DIRECTORY in which to create the links |
| -T--no-target-directory | treat LINK_NAME as a normal file always |
| -v--verbose | print name of each linked file |
| --help | display this help and exit |
| --version | output version information and exit |
| none, off | never make backups (even if --backup is given) |
| numbered, t | make numbered backups |
| existing, nil | numbered if numbered backups exist, simple otherwise |
| simple, never | always make simple backups |
NAME
ln - make links between files
SYNOPSIS
ln [OPTION]... [-T] TARGET LINK_NAME ln [OPTION]... TARGET ln [OPTION]... TARGET... DIRECTORY ln [OPTION]... -t DIRECTORY TARGET...
DESCRIPTION
In the 1st form, create a link to TARGET with the name LINK_NAME. In the 2nd form, create a link to TARGET in the current directory. In the 3rd and 4th forms, create links to each TARGET in DIRECTORY. Create hard links by default, symbolic links with --symbolic. By default, each destination (name of new link) should not already exist. When creating hard links, each TARGET must exist. Symbolic links can hold arbitrary text; if later resolved, a relative link is interpreted in relation to its parent directory.
Mandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options too.
- --backup[=CONTROL]
make a backup of each existing destination file
- -b
like --backup but does not accept an argument
- -d, -F, --directory
allow the superuser to attempt to hard link directories (this will probably fail due to system restrictions, even for the superuser)
- -f, --force
remove existing destination files
- -i, --interactive
prompt whether to remove destinations
- -L, --logical
dereference TARGETs that are symbolic links
- -n, --no-dereference
treat LINK_NAME as a normal file if it is a symbolic link to a directory
- -P, --physical
make hard links directly to symbolic links
- -r, --relative
with -s, create links relative to link location
- -s, --symbolic
make symbolic links instead of hard links
- -S, --suffix=SUFFIX
override the usual backup suffix
- -t, --target-directory=DIRECTORY
specify the DIRECTORY in which to create the links
- -T, --no-target-directory
treat LINK_NAME as a normal file always
- -v, --verbose
print name of each linked file
- --help
display this help and exit
- --version
output version information and exit
The backup suffix is '~', unless set with --suffix or SIMPLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX. The version control method may be selected via the --backup option or through the VERSION_CONTROL environment variable. Here are the values:
- none, off
never make backups (even if --backup is given)
- numbered, t
make numbered backups
- existing, nil
numbered if numbered backups exist, simple otherwise
- simple, never
always make simple backups
Using -s ignores -L and -P. Otherwise, the last option specified controls behavior when a TARGET is a symbolic link, defaulting to -P.
AUTHOR
Written by Mike Parker and David MacKenzie.
REPORTING BUGS
GNU coreutils online help: <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/> Report any translation bugs to <https://translationproject.org/team/>
SEE ALSO
link(2), symlink(2)
Full documentation <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/ln> or available locally via: info '(coreutils) ln invocation'
Packaged by Debian (9.7-3) Copyright © 2025 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later <https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>. This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.