LN(1)							      General Commands Manual							     LN(1)

NAME

       ln - make links

SYNOPSIS

       ln [ -s ] sourcename [ targetname ]
       ln [ -s ] sourcename1 sourcename2 [ sourcename3 ... ] targetdirectory

DESCRIPTION

       A  link	is  a  directory entry referring to a file; the same file (together with its size, all its protection information, 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 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 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 targetdirectory 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), symlink(2)

4th Berkeley Distribution					  April 10, 1986							     LN(1)