UNLINK(II) 8/5/73 UNLINK(II)
NAME
unlink - remove directory entry
SYNOPSIS
(unlink = 10.)
sys unlink; name
unlink(name)
char *name;
DESCRIPTION
Name points to a null-terminated string. Unlink removes the
entry for the file pointed to by name from its directory.
If this entry was the last link to the file, the contents of
the file are freed and the file is destroyed. If, however,
the file was open in any process, the actual destruction is
delayed until it is closed, even though the directory entry
has disappeared.
SEE ALSO
rm (I), rmdir (I), link (II)
DIAGNOSTICS
The error bit (c-bit) is set to indicate that the file does
not exist or that its directory cannot be written. Write
permission is not required on the file itself. It is also
illegal to unlink a directory (except for the super-user).
From C, a -1 return indicates an error.