# 2.11BSD#431 - /usr/man/cat1/ln.0

    LN(1)		    UNIX Programmer's Manual		    LN(1)

    NAME
         ln - make links

    SYNOPSIS
         ln [ -s ] sourcename [ targetname ]
         ln [ -s ] sourcename1 sourcename2 [ sourcename3 ... ] tar-
         getdirectory

    DESCRIPTION
         A link is a directory entry referring to a file; the same
         file (together with its size, all its protection informa-
         tion, etc.) may have several links to it.	There are two
         kinds of links: hard links and symbolic links.

         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 effective independent of the name used
         to reference the file.  Hard links may not span file systems
         and may not refer to directories.

         The -s option causes ln to create symbolic links.	A sym-
         bolic link contains the name of the file to which it is
         linked.  The referenced file is used when an open(2) opera-
         tion 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 sourcename.  If targetname is given, the link has that
         name; targetname 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 sourcename.

         Given more than two arguments, ln makes links in target-
         directory to all the named source files.  The links made
         will have the same name as the files being linked to.

    SEE ALSO
         rm(1), cp(1), mv(1), link(2), readlink(2), stat(2), sym-
         link(2)

    Printed 11/26/99	 April 10, 1986                         1

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