---
name: "VOP_READLINK"
section: "9"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/VOP_READLINK"
---

# VOP\_READLINK(9)

read the target of a symbolic link

## NAME

**VOP\_READLINK** – read the target of a symbolic link

## SYNOPSIS

**#include \<sys/param.h\>**

**#include \<sys/vnode.h\>**

**#include \<sys/uio.h\>**

*int*\

**VOP\_READLINK**(*struct vnode \*vp*, *struct uio \*uio*, *struct ucred \*cred*);

## DESCRIPTION

This reads the target pathname of a symbolic link

- *vp*

  The vnode of the symlink.

- *uio*

  The location of the data to be read or written.

- *cred*

  The credentials of the caller.

## LOCKS

The vnode should be locked on entry and will still be locked on exit.

## RETURN VALUES

Zero is returned on success, otherwise an error code is returned.

## ERRORS

- \[EIO\]

  A read error occurred while reading the contents of the symlink.

- \[EINTEGRITY\]

  Corrupted data was detected while reading the contents of the symlink.

## SEE ALSO

[uiomove(9)](/uiomove/9.md), [vnode(9)](/vnode/9.md)

## AUTHORS

This manual page was written by Doug Rabson.