Linux Delete Symbolic Link ( Softlink )

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How do I delete softlink or symbolic link in Linux operating system using a command prompt?

You can use any one of the following command to remove symbolic links:

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  • rm – removes each given FILE including symbolic links
  • unlink – deletes a single specified file name including symbolic links.

Delete Symbolic Link File

Use the following syntax:

rm linkname
unlink linkname

Cd to /tmp

cd /tmp
ln -s /etc/resolv.conf dns
ls -l dns

Outputs:

lrwxrwxrwx 1 vivek vivek 16 2009-08-16 04:28 dns -> /etc/resolv.conf

Now delete dns symbolic link:

rm dns

OR

unlink dns

Delete Symbolic Link Directory

Use the following syntax:

rm linkDirName
unlink linkDirName

Note: Avoid appending / at the end of linkDirName. Cd to /tmp:

cd /tmp
ln -s /etc test
ls -l test

Sample Output:

lrwxrwxrwx 1 vivek vivek 4 2009-08-16 04:31 test -> /etc

Now delete test symbolic link directory:

rm test

OR

unlink test

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Posted by: Vivek Gite

The author is the creator of nixCraft and a seasoned sysadmin, DevOps engineer, and a trainer for the Linux operating system/Unix shell scripting. Get the latest tutorials on SysAdmin, Linux/Unix and open source topics via RSS/XML feed or weekly email newsletter.

15 comment

  1. Is there any way to automatically delete the links too on deletion of a file
    say,
    mainfile -> linkfile
    now rm -f mainfile , should delete linkfile too ?? in RHEL it exists but points no where.

  2. Hi ,
    can you explain below thing

    [root@localhost html]# unlink bugzilla-st/
    unlink: cannot unlink `bugzilla-st/’: Not a directory
    [root@localhost html]#
    [root@localhost html]#
    [root@localhost html]# rm bugzilla-st/
    rm: cannot remove `bugzilla-st/’: Is a directory

    Thanks&Regards,
    Srinu

  3. dont put slash at the end, use “unlink bugzilla-st” then it will work even i ahd the same problem,

  4. 1st delete the source file..
    then remove the Link
    Eg:
    symlink file
    test 1–> /opt/test

    removing source file
    # rm -Rf /opt/test
    remove link
    # unlink test1

    enjoy……. :D

  5. [root@localhost html]# unlink bugzilla-st/
    unlink: cannot unlink `bugzilla-st/’: Not a directory

    ==> unlink bugzilla-st

  7. All,

    So how do you write a bash script to wipe all existing symlinks (unknown to you) and re-establish new ones?

    Would need special exceptions for system created symlinks necessary for OS functions

    Cheers!

    TBNK

  8. I found out the hard way that “unlink” will not only remove symbolic links but will delete a file if you run “unlink” on an actual file instead of a symbolic link.

  9. unlink will also remove the target file of a sym link if that is the only link and no one has opened the target (no open file descriptor). Lost 10 days of work in a zippy damn it :(

    Please mention this detail sir so others are saved from this pain like I am going through now :(

      1. I ran unlink on my softlink and the entire target file (which was a directory however a dir is also just a special kind of a file right?) got deleted.

        1. Ouch, sorry to hear that. :-(

          I’m experiencing exactly the same behavior on Fedora 22. Running the rm or ulink command on the symlink removes the content of the target directory, but the symbolic link stays unaffected. I can’t seem to be capable of figuring out why that is.

        2. Don’t worry, rm or unlink doesn’t remove directories unless specifically told to do so. Also, rm/unlink doesn’t remove the target directory or file. You must have mixed options and deleted the target first. Here is an example to prove it:

          # create a dir
mkdir foo
# copy some file 
cp /etc/resolv.conf foo
# Create soft link
ln -s foo bar
# Verify it
ls -ldi foo bar
# Delete the link
unlink bar
# Verify it and foo should be there
ls -li

          This is why you need to make regular backups. Mistakes happen at the CLI. Goodluck!

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