---
name: "keyctl_link"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "keyutils"
version: "1.6.3-4"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/keyctl_link"
---

# keyctl\_link(3)

link/unlink a key to/from a keyring

## NAME

keyctl\_link, keyctl\_unlink - link/unlink a key to/from a keyring

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <keyutils.h>

long keyctl_link(key_serial_t key, key_serial_t keyring);

long keyctl_unlink(key_serial_t key, key_serial_t keyring);
```

## DESCRIPTION

**keyctl\_link**() creates a link from *keyring* to *key*, displacing any link to another key of the same type and description in that keyring if one exists.

**keyctl\_unlink**() removes the link from *keyring* to *key* if it exists.

The caller must have **write** permission on a keyring to be able to create or remove links in it.

The caller must have **link** permission on a key to be able to create a link to it.

## RETURN VALUE

On success **keyctl\_link**() and **keyctl\_unlink**() return **0**. On error, the value **-1** will be returned and *errno* will have been set to an appropriate error.

## ERRORS

- **ENOKEY**

  The key or the keyring specified are invalid.

- **EKEYEXPIRED**

  The key or the keyring specified have expired.

- **EKEYREVOKED**

  The key or the keyring specified have been revoked.

- **EACCES**

  The keyring exists, but is not **writable** by the calling process.

For **keyctl\_link**() only:

- **ENOMEM**

  Insufficient memory to expand the keyring

- **EDQUOT**

  Expanding the keyring would exceed the keyring owner's quota.

- **EACCES**

  The key exists, but is not **linkable** by the calling process.

## LINKING

This is a library function that can be found in *libkeyutils*. When linking, **-lkeyutils** should be specified to the linker.

## SEE ALSO

[**keyctl**(1)](/keyctl/1.md), [**add\_key**(2)](/add_key/2.md), [**keyctl**(2)](/keyctl/2.md), [**request\_key**(2)](/request_key/2.md), [**keyctl**(3)](/keyctl/3.md), [**keyrings**(7)](/keyrings/7.md), [**keyutils**(7)](/keyutils/7.md)