---
name: "readlink"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "coreutils"
version: "9.12-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "openbsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/readlink"
---

# readlink(1)

print resolved symbolic links or canonical file names

## NAME

readlink - print resolved symbolic links or canonical file names

## SYNOPSIS

**readlink** \[*OPTION*\]... *FILE*...

## DESCRIPTION

[**realpath**(1)](/realpath/1.md) is a better command for canonicalization functionality.

Print value of a symbolic link or canonical file name

- **-f, --canonicalize**

  canonicalize by following every symlink in every component of the given name recursively; all but the last component must exist

- **-e, --canonicalize-existing**

  canonicalize by following every symlink in every component of the given name recursively; all components must exist

- **-m, --canonicalize-missing**

  canonicalize by following every symlink in every component of the given name recursively, without requirements on components existence

- **-n, --no-newline**

  do not output the trailing delimiter

**-q, --quiet**

- **-s, --silent**

  suppress most error messages (on by default if POSIXLY\_CORRECT is not set)

- **-v, --verbose**

  report error messages (on by default if POSIXLY\_CORRECT is set)

- **-z, --zero**

  end each output line with NUL, not newline

- **--help**

  display this help and exit

- **--version**

  output version information and exit

## AUTHOR

Written by Dmitry V. Levin.

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to: \<bug-coreutils@gnu.org\>.\
 Report any translation bugs to: \<https://translationproject.org/team/\>.\
 GNU coreutils home page: \<https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/\>\
 General help using GNU software: \<https://www.gnu.org/gethelp/\>

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2026 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later \<https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html\>.\
 This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

## SEE ALSO

[**readlink**(2)](/readlink/2.md), [**realpath**(1)](/realpath/1.md), [**realpath**(3)](/realpath/3.md)

Full documentation \<https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/readlink\>\
 or available locally via: info '(coreutils) readlink invocation'