usage of softlinks


usage of symbolic links
symbolic links also called soft links,soft links is means shortcut as windows,it has different inode as original file. hard link like copy of a file,it has the same inode as original file.
ln -s targetffile/targetdir linkname
how to remove
  • rm linkname
  • unlink linkname

  • pay attention
    if your softlink is point to a directory,when you delete your softlink,DON’T ADD “/” at the end of the link name,or it will delete all the files in the target directory. for example:
    mkdir dir
    cd dir
    touch a.a b.b c.c d.d
    cd ..
    ln -s dir mylink
    unlink mylink    //it's ok,it will delete soft link,but won't delete the target dir
    unlink mylink/    //it's ok,it will delete soft link,but won't delete the target dir
    rm mylink       //it 's ok,it wi ll delete soft link,but won't delete the target dir
    rm -r mylink   //it 's ok,it wi ll delete soft link,but won't delete the target dir
    rm -rf mylink  //it 's ok,it wi ll delete soft link,but won't delete the target dir
    rm -r mylink/   __*IT'S NOT OK,it will delete the target dir !!!*__
    

    so ,for safe use, dont use “-r” option, dont’t add “/” at the end of linkname; use “unlink” is better.
    CONCLUSION: DONT ADD “/” AT THE END OF LINKNAME.