LN(1)

NAME
ln - make links between files

SYNOPSIS
ln [OPTION]... TARGET [LINK_NAME]
ln [OPTION]... TARGET... DIRECTORY
ln [OPTION]... --target-directory=DIRECTORY TARGET...

DESCRIPTION

Create a link to the specified TARGET with optional LINK_NAME. If LINK_NAME is omitted, a link with the same basename as the TARGET is created in the current directory. When using the second form with more than one TARGET, the last argument must be a directory; create links in DIRECTORY to each TARGET. Create hard links by default, symbolic links with --symbolic. When creating hard links, each TARGET must exist.

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 (note: will probably fail due to system restrictions, even for the superuser)

-f, --force
    remove existing destination files

-n, --no-dereference
    treat destination that is a symlink to a directory as if it were a normal file

-i, --interactive
    prompt whether to remove destinations

-s, --symbolic
    make symbolic links instead of hard links

-S, --suffix=SUFFIX
    override the usual backup suffix

--target-directory=DIRECTORY
    specify the DIRECTORY in which to create the links

-v, --verbose
    print name of each file before linking

--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

AUTHOR
Written by Mike Parker and David MacKenzie.

REPORTING BUGS
Report bugs to <bug-coreutils@gnu.org>.

COPYRIGHT
Copyright © 2004 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
This is free software; see the source for copying conditions. There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

SEE ALSO
The full documentation for ln is maintained as a Texinfo manual. If the info and ln programs are properly installed at your site, the command

    info coreutils ln

should give you access to the complete manual.