> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.syntblaze.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Bash Symbolic Link Check The `-L` operator is a unary file test operator in Bash used to determine whether a specified path exists and is a symbolic link (symlink). When evaluated within a conditional expression, it inspects the file metadata without dereferencing the link to its target. **Syntax** ```bash theme={"dark"} [ -L FILE ] [[ -L FILE ]] test -L FILE ``` **Technical Characteristics** * **Exit Status:** Returns `0` (true) if `FILE` exists and is a symbolic link. Returns `1` (false) if `FILE` does not exist or is any other file type (e.g., regular file, directory, block device). * **Target Resolution:** Unlike operators such as `-e` or `-f`, `-L` operates strictly on the symlink's inode. It does not follow or resolve the link to evaluate the target file. * **Dangling/Broken Links:** The operator evaluates to `0` (true) even if the symbolic link points to a non-existent target. The existence of the link itself satisfies the condition. * **Equivalence:** In Bash, the `-h` operator is functionally identical to `-L` and is maintained for POSIX compliance and historical compatibility. Both evaluate the exact same metadata.

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