> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://linuxhandbook.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # How to Delete Soft Links in Linux - URL: https://linuxhandbook.com/delete-links/ - Published: 2022-10-17T07:34:25.000Z - Updated: 2022-11-12T14:19:57.000Z - Description: Learn a thing or two about deleting soft links and hard links in the Linux command line. - Author: Abhishek Prakash - Tags: Tips The symbolic link, also known as [soft link](https://linuxhandbook.com/symbolic-link-linux/) or symlink, in Linux is a special type of file that works as a shortcut to another file. You can [create a soft link using the ln command](https://linuxhandbook.com/ln-command/). But what about deleting them? **There is no special command for removing symbolic links in Linux**. You can use the [rm command which is also used for deleting files and directories.](https://linuxhandbook.com/remove-files-directories/) ``` rm symbolic_link_name ``` You may also the unlink command here. Don't go by its name. It's not only for deleting links; it can also delete files. ``` unlink symbolic_link_name ``` Let's see it in detail. ## Delete symbolic links using rm command All you have to do is to give the name of the path of the link to the command: ``` rm name_or_path_of_link ``` Let's see it with an example. Can you identify the soft link in the long list output of ls command? ``` abhishek@LHB:~/test$ ls -l total 4708 -rw-rw-r-- 1 abhishek abhishek 4794657 Sep 27 20:36 export.json -rw-rw-r-- 1 abhishek abhishek 311 Sep 22 12:19 line.txt lrwxrwxrwx 1 abhishek abhishek 26 Oct 17 11:24 mylink -> ./Documents/sample-mark.md -rw-rw-r-- 1 abhishek abhishek 106 Sep 27 20:39 redirects.json -rw-r--r-- 1 abhishek abhishek 12817 Sep 22 12:28 sample.txt ``` The link is called mylink. You can identify it in the long listing as it starts with the character `l` (for link) and the name shows the file it points to. Let me delete the link and verify it: ``` abhishek@LHB:~/test$ rm mylink abhishek@LHB:~/test$ ls -l total 4708 -rw-rw-r-- 1 abhishek abhishek 4794657 Sep 27 20:36 export.json -rw-rw-r-- 1 abhishek abhishek 311 Sep 22 12:19 line.txt -rw-rw-r-- 1 abhishek abhishek 106 Sep 27 20:39 redirects.json ``` 💡 Deleting a soft link does not delete the original file it links to. You can verify that the original file still exists. ![Deleting soft links in Linux with the rm command](https://linuxhandbook.com/content/images/2022/10/deleting-soft-links-with-rm-command-in-linux.png) ### Deleting multiple links You can remove multiple symlinks at once with the rm command: ``` rm symlink1 symlink2 symlink3 ``` [GridPaneGridPane helps WordPress agencies and developers build their own self managed WordPress hosting business.![](https://gridpane.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Gridpane-Favicon.png)GridPane![](https://gridpane.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/GridPane-Self-Managed-WordPress-Hosting.jpg)](https://gridpane.com/?via=lhb&ref=linuxhandbook.com) ## Remove soft links using unlink command Another way to delete soft links is by [using the unlink command](https://linuxhandbook.com/unlink-command/). It may sound like this command is only for removing links, it can delete files as well. To remove a link with unlink, use it like this. ``` unlink name_or_path_of_link ``` I'll use the same example I used earlier. ![Removing soft link using unlink command](https://linuxhandbook.com/content/images/2022/10/deleting-soft-links-with-unlink-command-in-linux.png) The unlink command is pretty limited. You can not delete multiple links at once with it. ## Delete soft link to a directory You can create soft links to both files and directories. While you have to remove a directory with -r option, the link to a directory doesn't need that. Use it the same way you used to delete link to a file: ``` rm name_or_path_to_link_to_dir ``` Don't use trailing slashes with the link else it will complain. ``` abhishek@LHB:~/test$ rm link_to_dir/ rm: cannot remove 'link_to_dir/': Is a directory ``` Here's an example of deleting a soft link to directory. ![Delete link to a directory in Linux](https://linuxhandbook.com/content/images/2022/10/delete-link-to-directory-in-linux.png) ⚠️ Never force remove a link to a directory with `rm -f` because it will delete the contents of the directory. ![](https://linuxhandbook.com/content/images/2022/10/force-deleting-directory-link.png) Force deleting the link to the directory deletes the contents of the actual directory ## Deleting hard links Unlike soft links, a [hard link](https://linuxhandbook.com/hard-link/) is almost indistinguishable from the original file. You can only notice it with the [inode](https://linuxhandbook.com/inode-linux/) number. Can you identify the hard link and the file in the output? Pay attention to the inode numbers. ``` abhishek@LHB:~/test$ ls -li total 4716 544057 -rw-rw-r-- 1 abhishek abhishek 4794657 Sep 27 20:36 export.json 544884 -rw-rw-r-- 2 abhishek abhishek 311 Sep 22 12:19 hard_link 544884 -rw-rw-r-- 2 abhishek abhishek 311 Sep 22 12:19 line.txt 1181365 drwxrwxr-x 2 abhishek abhishek 4096 Oct 17 12:33 my_dir 546419 -rw-rw-r-- 1 abhishek abhishek 106 Sep 27 20:39 redirects.json ``` And deleting a hard link is the same as deleting a file. ``` rm path_or_name_of_hard_link ``` ## What about deleting the linked file? I can't think of a scenario where you would want to delete the original file while removing the soft link automatically. Well, you can follow a symbolic link to get to the original file and use it to remove the file. ``` rm "$(readlink '/path/to/link')" /path/to/link ``` 💡 If you delete a file, keeping the soft link intact, the link becomes a broken or dangling link. ## Conclusion While the unlink command exists, I recommend using the rm command for deleting symbolic links. You are already familiar with it and use this command for removing files. Use it for links as well. It's one [less command](https://linuxhandbook.com/less-command/) to remember.