How can I symlink a file in Linux?

To create a symbolic link (symlink) in Linux, use the ln command with the -s (symbolic) option. A symlink acts as a shortcut to another file or directory.

Basic Syntax

ln -s <source_path> <symlink_name>

Examples

1. Create a Symlink to a File

# Create a symlink "shortcut.txt" pointing to "original.txt"
ln -s /path/to/original.txt shortcut.txt

2. Create a Symlink to a Directory

# Create a symlink "my_folder" pointing to "/var/www/html"
ln -s /var/www/html my_folder

3. Overwrite an Existing Symlink

Use -f (force) to replace an existing symlink:

ln -sf /new/target existing_symlink

4. Use Relative Paths

Create a symlink using a relative path (useful for portability):

# From the current directory, link to "../data/config.json"
ln -s ../data/config.json config_link

Verify Symlinks

• Check symlink details with ls -l:

  ls -l shortcut.txt

Output example:

  lrwxrwxrwx 1 user group 15 Jun 1 10:00 shortcut.txt -> original.txt

• Use readlink to see the target:

  readlink shortcut.txt

Key Notes

• Permissions: Symlinks inherit the target’s permissions.
• Dangling Links: If the source file/directory is deleted, the symlink becomes “broken” (dangling).
• Delete a Symlink:

  unlink symlink_name   # Safely remove the symlink
  # OR
  rm symlink_name       # Standard delete

Common Errors & Fixes

Error	Solution
ln: failed to create symbolic link: File exists	Use -f to overwrite.
ln: target 'symlink' is not a directory	Specify a valid source path.

Symbolic Link vs. Hard Link

Feature	Symbolic Link (ln -s)	Hard Link (ln)
Cross-Filesystem	Yes	No
Link to Directories	Yes	No
Target Deletion	Link breaks	Link remains valid

Use symlinks for flexible file/directory references!