How to Create a Symbolic Link (Symlink) in Linux

In this tutorial, you'll learn about How to Create a Symbolic Link (Symlink) in Linux. We cover key concepts, practical examples, and best practices.

The Problem

You want a file or folder to appear in multiple places without duplicating it. Symbolic links (symlinks) are references that point to the original file.

Quick Fix

Create a symlink to a file

ln -s /original/file.txt /path/to/link.txt

Now /path/to/link.txt behaves exactly like /original/file.txt.

Create a symlink to a directory

ln -s /original/folder /path/to/folder

Check what a symlink points to

ls -la /path/to/link

Expected output:

lrwxrwxrwx 1 user user 20 Jun 15 10:00 link.txt -> /original/file.txt

The l at the start means it's a symlink. The -> shows the target.

Overwrite an existing symlink

ln -sf /new/target/file.txt /path/to/link.txt

Hard Links vs Symlinks

Hard links can't link to directories. Use symlinks for directories.

Fixing Broken Symlinks

# Find broken symlinks
find . -xtype l

# Recreate a broken symlink
rm broken-link
ln -s /correct/path broken-link