term% cat index.txt LINK(2) System Calls Manual LINK(2)
NAME
link, symlink, readlink - link to a file
SYNOPSIS
link(name1, name2)
char *name1, *name2;
symlink(name1, name2)
char *name1, *name2;
readlink(name, buf, size)
char *name, *buf;
DESCRIPTION
A link to name1 is created; the link has the name name2. Either name
may be an arbitrary path name. After link, name2 is entirely equiva‐
lent to name1; it is a directory entry referring to the same file as
name1.
After symlink, name2 is a new symbolic link; when it is encountered in
any path name, name1 is substituted for name2, and path name parsing
continues. If name1 begins with the `/' character, it is interpreted
with respect to the root directory; if not, it is interpreted with re‐
spect to the directory in which name2 resides.
The readlink call returns the contents of a symbolic link name into
buf. No more than size characters are returned. If there is room, the
returned string will be null-padded. An error is reported if name is
not a symbolic link.
SEE ALSO
ln(1), unlink(2), stat(2)
DIAGNOSTICS
Zero is returned when a link is made; -1 is returned when name1 cannot
be found; when name2 already exists; when the directory of name2 cannot
be written. With link, only the super-user may link to a directory.
Furthermore, the target must exist in the same file system, and not
have too many links.
LINK(2)