Master Linux File Linking: Hard & Soft Links with Practical Examples

ln Command Help

Usage: ln [OPTION]... [-T] TARGET LINK_NAME
   or:  ln [OPTION]... TARGET
   or:  ln [OPTION]... TARGET... DIRECTORY
   or:  ln [OPTION]... -t DIRECTORY TARGET...

Create a link to TARGET with the name LINK_NAME (first form).
Create a link to TARGET in the current directory (second form).
Create links to each TARGET in DIRECTORY (third and fourth forms).
Hard links are created by default; use <code>--symbolic</code> or <code>-s</code> for symbolic links.
The destination name must not already exist unless <code>--force</code> is used.

Common Link Options

--backup[=CONTROL]

– create a backup of each existing destination file. -b – same as --backup but without argument. -d, --directory – create a hard link to a directory (super‑user only). -f, --force – remove existing destination files. -i, --interactive – prompt before overwriting. -L, --logical – dereference symbolic links. -n, --no-dereference – treat a symlink to a directory as a normal file. -P, --physical – make hard links to symbolic links. -r, --relative – create symbolic links relative to the link location. -s, --symbolic – create symbolic (soft) links instead of hard links. -S, --suffix=SUFFIX – override the default 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. -v, --verbose – print each linked file name. --help – display help and exit. --version – display version information and exit.

Creating Hard and Soft Links

Hard Link : Allows a file to have multiple valid path names, protecting against accidental deletion. ln [source_file] [link_file] Soft (Symbolic) Link : Works like a shortcut, containing the path to another file.

ln -s [source_file] [link_file]

Examples

Prerequisite

[root@Servera test]# pwd
/var/test
[root@Servera test]# tree
.
├── soft_link
└── testFiles
    └── 1.txt

Hard Link Example

[root@Servera test]# ln testFiles/1.txt 2.txt
[root@Servera test]# tree
.
├── 2.txt
├── soft_link
└── testFiles
    └── 1.txt

Soft Link Example

[root@Servera test]# ln -s testFiles/1.txt soft_link/3.txt
[root@Servera test]# tree
.
├── 2.txt
├── soft_link
│   └── 3.txt -> testFiles/1.txt
└── testFiles
    └── 1.txt

Modify a Soft Link

[root@Servera test]# ln -snf testFiles/10.txt soft_link/3.txt
[root@Servera test]# tree
.
├── 2.txt
├── soft_link
│   └── 3.txt -> testFiles/10.txt
└── testFiles
    ├── 10.txt
    └── 1.txt

Delete a Soft Link

[root@Servera test]# rm soft_link/3.txt
rm: remove symbolic link 'soft_link/3.txt'? yes
[root@Servera test]# tree
.
├── 2.txt
├── soft_link
└── testFiles
    ├── 10.txt
    └── 1.txt

For more details, refer to the GNU coreutils online help or the local info page info '(coreutils) ln invocation'.