| -f--canonicalize | canonicalize by following every symlink in every component of the given name recursively; all but the last component must exist |
| -e--canonicalize-existing | canonicalize by following every symlink in every component of the given name recursively, all components must exist |
| -m--canonicalize-missing | canonicalize by following every symlink in every component of the given name recursively, without requirements on components existence |
| -n--no-newline | do not output the trailing delimiter |
| -s--silent | suppress most error messages (on by default) |
| -v--verbose | report error messages |
| -z--zero | end each output line with NUL, not newline |
| --help | display this help and exit |
| --version | output version information and exit |
NAME
readlink - print resolved symbolic links or canonical file names
SYNOPSIS
readlink [OPTION]... FILE...
DESCRIPTION
realpath(1) is a better command for canonicalization functionality.
Print value of a symbolic link or canonical file name
- -f, --canonicalize
canonicalize by following every symlink in every component of the given name recursively; all but the last component must exist
- -e, --canonicalize-existing
canonicalize by following every symlink in every component of the given name recursively, all components must exist
- -m, --canonicalize-missing
canonicalize by following every symlink in every component of the given name recursively, without requirements on components existence
- -n, --no-newline
do not output the trailing delimiter
-q, --quiet
- -s, --silent
suppress most error messages (on by default)
- -v, --verbose
report error messages
- -z, --zero
end each output line with NUL, not newline
- --help
display this help and exit
- --version
output version information and exit
AUTHOR
Written by Dmitry V. Levin.
REPORTING BUGS
GNU coreutils online help: <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/> Report any translation bugs to <https://translationproject.org/team/>
SEE ALSO
readlink(2), realpath(1), realpath(3)
Full documentation <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/readlink> or available locally via: info '(coreutils) readlink 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.