# add_link_options

Added in version 3.13.

Add options to the link step for executable, shared library or module library targets in the current directory and below that are added after this command is invoked.

    add_link_options(<option> ...)

This command can be used to add any link options, but alternative commands exist to add libraries (`target_link_libraries()` or `link_libraries()`). See documentation of the `directory` and `target` `LINK_OPTIONS` properties.

Note

This command cannot be used to add options for static library targets, since they do not use a linker. To add archiver or MSVC librarian flags, see the `STATIC_LIBRARY_OPTIONS` target property.

Arguments to `add_link_options` may use generator expressions with the syntax `$<...>`. See the `cmake-generator-expressions(7)` manual for available expressions. See the `cmake-buildsystem(7)` manual for more on defining buildsystem properties.

## Host And Device Specific Link Options

Added in version 3.18: When a device link step is involved, which is controlled by `CUDA_SEPARABLE_COMPILATION` and `CUDA_RESOLVE_DEVICE_SYMBOLS` properties and policy `CMP0105`, the raw options will be delivered to the host and device link steps (wrapped in `-Xcompiler` or equivalent for device link). Options wrapped with `$<DEVICE_LINK:...>` generator expression will be used only for the device link step. Options wrapped with `$<HOST_LINK:...>` generator expression will be used only for the host link step.

## Option De-duplication

The final set of options used for a target is constructed by accumulating options from the current target and the usage requirements of its dependencies. The set of options is de-duplicated to avoid repetition.

Added in version 3.12: While beneficial for individual options, the de-duplication step can break up option groups. For example, `-option A -option B` becomes `-option A B`. One may specify a group of options using shell-like quoting along with a `SHELL:` prefix. The `SHELL:` prefix is dropped, and the rest of the option string is parsed using the `separate_arguments()` `UNIX_COMMAND` mode. For example, `"SHELL:-option A" "SHELL:-option B"` becomes `-option A -option B`.

## Handling Compiler Driver Differences

To pass options to the linker tool, each compiler driver has its own syntax. The `LINKER:` prefix and `,` separator can be used to specify, in a portable way, options to pass to the linker tool. `LINKER:` is replaced by the appropriate driver option and `,` by the appropriate driver separator. The driver prefix and driver separator are given by the values of the `CMAKE_<LANG>_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG` and `CMAKE_<LANG>_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG_SEP` variables.

For example, `"LINKER:-z,defs"` becomes `-Xlinker -z -Xlinker defs` for `Clang` and `-Wl,-z,defs` for `GNU GCC`.

The `LINKER:` prefix can be specified as part of a `SHELL:` prefix expression.

The `LINKER:` prefix supports, as an alternative syntax, specification of arguments using the `SHELL:` prefix and space as separator. The previous example then becomes `"LINKER:SHELL:-z defs"`.

Note

Specifying the `SHELL:` prefix anywhere other than at the beginning of the `LINKER:` prefix is not supported.

## See Also

- `link_libraries()`

- `target_link_libraries()`

- `target_link_options()`

- `CMAKE_<LANG>_FLAGS` and `CMAKE_<LANG>_FLAGS_<CONFIG>` add language-wide flags passed to all invocations of the compiler. This includes invocations that drive compiling and those that drive linking.