How to Create Symbolic Link in Linux: Simple Guide

To create a symbolic link in Linux, use the ln -s command followed by the target file or directory and the link name. For example, ln -s /path/to/original /path/to/link creates a symbolic link pointing to the original file or folder.

Syntax

The basic syntax to create a symbolic link is:

• ln: the command to create links
• -s: option to create a symbolic (soft) link instead of a hard link
• target: the original file or directory you want to link to
• link_name: the name of the symbolic link you want to create

bash

ln -s target link_name

Example

This example creates a symbolic link named mylink that points to the file /usr/bin/python3. After running the command, mylink acts like a shortcut to /usr/bin/python3.

bash

ln -s /usr/bin/python3 mylink
ls -l mylink

Output

lrwxrwxrwx 1 user user 15 Apr 27 12:00 mylink -> /usr/bin/python3

Common Pitfalls

Common mistakes when creating symbolic links include:

• Forgetting the -s option, which creates a hard link instead of a symbolic link.
• Using a relative path for the target without understanding where the link will be used, causing broken links.
• Trying to create a link where a file or directory with the same name already exists.

Always check if the link name already exists and use absolute paths for clarity.

bash

ln /usr/bin/python3 mylink  # Wrong: creates hard link
ln -s /usr/bin/python3 mylink  # Correct: creates symbolic link

Quick Reference

Command	Description
ln -s target link_name	Create a symbolic link named link_name to target
ls -l link_name	Show details of the symbolic link
rm link_name	Remove the symbolic link without affecting the target
readlink link_name	Display the target path of the symbolic link

Key Takeaways

Use ln -s target link_name to create symbolic links in Linux.

Always use absolute paths for the target to avoid broken links.

Check if the link name already exists to prevent errors.

Symbolic links are shortcuts and do not duplicate the original file.

Remove symbolic links with rm without affecting the original file.