target_link_libraries — CMake 4.2.6 Documentation

# target_link_libraries

Specify libraries or flags to use when linking a given target and/or its dependents. Usage requirements from linked library targets will be propagated. Usage requirements of a target's dependencies affect compilation of its own sources.

## Overview

This command has several signatures as detailed in subsections below. All of them have the general form

    target_link_libraries(<target> ... <item>... ...)

The named `<target>` must have been created by a command such as `add_executable()` or `add_library()` and must not be an ALIAS target. If policy `CMP0079` is not set to `NEW` then the target must have been created in the current directory. Repeated calls for the same `<target>` append items in the order called.

Added in version 3.13: The `<target>` doesn't have to be defined in the same directory as the `target_link_libraries` call.

Each `<item>` may be:

- A library target name: The generated link line will have the full path to the linkable library file associated with the target. The buildsystem will have a dependency to re-link `<target>` if the library file changes.

  The named target must be created by `add_library()` within the project or as an IMPORTED library. If it is created within the project an ordering dependency will automatically be added in the build system to make sure the named library target is up-to-date before the `<target>` links.

  If an imported library has the `IMPORTED_NO_SONAME` target property set, CMake may ask the linker to search for the library instead of using the full path (e.g. `/usr/lib/libfoo.so` becomes `-lfoo`).

  The full path to the target's artifact will be quoted/escaped for the shell automatically.

- A full path to a library file: The generated link line will normally preserve the full path to the file. The buildsystem will have a dependency to re-link `<target>` if the library file changes.

  There are some cases where CMake may ask the linker to search for the library (e.g. `/usr/lib/libfoo.so` becomes `-lfoo`), such as when a shared library is detected to have no `SONAME` field. In CMake versions prior to 4.0, see policy `CMP0060` for discussion of another case.

  If the library file is in a macOS framework, the `Headers` directory of the framework will also be processed as a usage requirement. This has the same effect as passing the framework directory as an include directory.

  Added in version 3.28: The library file may point to a `.xcframework` folder on Apple platforms. If it does, the target will get the selected library's `Headers` directory as a usage requirement.

  Added in version 3.8: On Visual Studio Generators for VS 2010 and above, library files ending in `.targets` will be treated as MSBuild targets files and imported into generated project files. This is not supported by other generators.

  The full path to the library file will be quoted/escaped for the shell automatically.

- A plain library name: The generated link line will ask the linker to search for the library (e.g. `foo` becomes `-lfoo` or `foo.lib`).

  The library name/flag is treated as a command-line string fragment and will be used with no extra quoting or escaping.

- A link flag: Item names starting with `-`, but not `-l` or `-framework`, are treated as linker flags. Note that such flags will be treated like any other library link item for purposes of transitive dependencies, so they are generally safe to specify only as private link items that will not propagate to dependents.

  Link flags specified here are inserted into the link command in the same place as the link libraries. This might not be correct, depending on the linker. Use the `LINK_OPTIONS` target property or `target_link_options()` command to add link flags explicitly. The flags will then be placed at the toolchain-defined flag position in the link command.

  Added in version 3.13: `LINK_OPTIONS` target property and `target_link_options()` command. For earlier versions of CMake, use `LINK_FLAGS` property instead.

  The link flag is treated as a command-line string fragment and will be used with no extra quoting or escaping.

- A generator expression: A `$<...>` `generator expression` may evaluate to any of the above items or to a semicolon-separated list of them. If the `...` contains any `;` characters, e.g. after evaluation of a `${list}` variable, be sure to use an explicitly quoted argument `"$<...>"` so that this command receives it as a single `<item>`.

  Additionally, a generator expression may be used as a fragment of any of the above items, e.g. `foo$<1:_d>`.

- A `debug`, `optimized`, or `general` keyword immediately followed by another `<item>`. The item following such a keyword will be used only for the corresponding build configuration. The `debug` keyword corresponds to the `Debug` configuration (or to configurations named in the `DEBUG_CONFIGURATIONS` global property if it is set). The `optimized` keyword corresponds to all other configurations. The `general` keyword corresponds to all configurations, and is purely optional. These keywords are interpreted immediately by this command and therefore have no special meaning when produced by a generator expression.

  Alternatively, generator expressions like `$<CONFIG>` provide finer per-configuration linking of `<item>`. For a more structured approach, higher granularity can be achieved by creating and linking to IMPORTED library targets with the `IMPORTED_CONFIGURATIONS` property set, particularly in find modules.

Items containing `::`, such as `Foo::Bar`, are assumed to be IMPORTED or ALIAS library target names and will cause an error if no such target exists. See policy `CMP0028`.

See the `CMAKE_LINK_LIBRARIES_STRATEGY` variable and corresponding `LINK_LIBRARIES_STRATEGY` target property for details on how CMake orders direct link dependencies on linker command lines.

See the `cmake-buildsystem(7)` manual for more on defining buildsystem properties.

## Handling Compiler Driver Differences

Added in version 4.0.

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 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.

## Libraries for a Target and/or its Dependents

    target_link_libraries(<target>
                          <PRIVATE|PUBLIC|INTERFACE> <item>...
                         [<PRIVATE|PUBLIC|INTERFACE> <item>...]...)

The `PUBLIC`, `PRIVATE` and `INTERFACE` scope keywords can be used to specify both the link dependencies and the link interface in one command.

Libraries and targets following `PUBLIC` are linked to, and are made part of the link interface. Libraries and targets following `PRIVATE` are linked to, but are not made part of the link interface. Libraries following `INTERFACE` are appended to the link interface and are not used for linking `<target>`.

## Libraries for both a Target and its Dependents

    target_link_libraries(<target> <item>...)

Library dependencies are transitive by default with this signature. When this target is linked into another target then the libraries linked to this target will appear on the link line for the other target too. This transitive "link interface" is stored in the `INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES` target property and may be overridden by setting the property directly.

In CMake versions prior to 4.0, if `CMP0022` is not set to `NEW`, transitive linking is built in but may be overridden by the `LINK_INTERFACE_LIBRARIES` property. Calls to other signatures of this command may set the property making any libraries linked exclusively by this signature private.

## Libraries for a Target and/or its Dependents (Legacy)

This signature is for compatibility only. Prefer the `PUBLIC` or `PRIVATE` keywords instead.

    target_link_libraries(<target>
                          <LINK_PRIVATE|LINK_PUBLIC> <lib>...
                         [<LINK_PRIVATE|LINK_PUBLIC> <lib>...]...)

The `LINK_PUBLIC` and `LINK_PRIVATE` modes can be used to specify both the link dependencies and the link interface in one command.

Libraries and targets following `LINK_PUBLIC` are linked to, and are made part of the `INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES`.

In CMake versions prior to 4.0, if policy `CMP0022` is not `NEW`, they are also made part of the `LINK_INTERFACE_LIBRARIES`. Libraries and targets following `LINK_PRIVATE` are linked to, but are not made part of the `INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES` (or `LINK_INTERFACE_LIBRARIES`).

## Libraries for Dependents Only (Legacy)

This signature is for compatibility only. Prefer the `INTERFACE` mode instead.

    target_link_libraries(<target> LINK_INTERFACE_LIBRARIES <item>...)

The `LINK_INTERFACE_LIBRARIES` mode appends the libraries to the `INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES` target property instead of using them for linking.

In CMake versions prior to 4.0, if policy `CMP0022` is not `NEW`, then this mode also appends libraries to the `LINK_INTERFACE_LIBRARIES` and its per-configuration equivalent.

## Linking Object Libraries

Added in version 3.12.

Object Libraries may be used as the `<target>` (first) argument of `target_link_libraries` to specify dependencies of their sources on other libraries. For example, the code

    add_library(A SHARED a.c)
    target_compile_definitions(A PUBLIC A)

    add_library(obj OBJECT obj.c)
    target_compile_definitions(obj PUBLIC OBJ)
    target_link_libraries(obj PUBLIC A)

compiles `obj.c` with `-DA -DOBJ` and establishes usage requirements for `obj` that propagate to its dependents.

Normal libraries and executables may link to Object Libraries to get their objects and usage requirements. Continuing the above example, the code

    add_library(B SHARED b.c)
    target_link_libraries(B PUBLIC obj)

compiles `b.c` with `-DA -DOBJ`, creates shared library `B` with object files from `b.c` and `obj.c`, and links `B` to `A`. Furthermore, the code

    add_executable(main main.c)
    target_link_libraries(main B)

compiles `main.c` with `-DA -DOBJ` and links executable `main` to `B` and `A`. The object library's usage requirements are propagated transitively through `B`, but its object files are not.

Object Libraries may "link" to other object libraries to get usage requirements, but since they do not have a link step nothing is done with their object files. Continuing from the above example, the code:

    add_library(obj2 OBJECT obj2.c)
    target_link_libraries(obj2 PUBLIC obj)

    add_executable(main2 main2.c)
    target_link_libraries(main2 obj2)

compiles `obj2.c` with `-DA -DOBJ`, creates executable `main2` with object files from `main2.c` and `obj2.c`, and links `main2` to `A`.

In other words, when Object Libraries appear in a target's `INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES` property they will be treated as Interface Libraries, but when they appear in a target's `LINK_LIBRARIES` property their object files will be included in the link too.

### Linking Object Libraries via `$<TARGET_OBJECTS>`

Added in version 3.21.

The object files associated with an object library may be referenced by the `$<TARGET_OBJECTS>` generator expression. Such object files are placed on the link line before all libraries, regardless of their relative order. Additionally, an ordering dependency will be added to the build system to make sure the object library is up-to-date before the dependent target links. For example, the code

    add_library(obj3 OBJECT obj3.c)
    target_compile_definitions(obj3 PUBLIC OBJ3)

    add_executable(main3 main3.c)
    target_link_libraries(main3 PRIVATE a3 $<TARGET_OBJECTS:obj3> b3)

links executable `main3` with object files from `main3.c` and `obj3.c` followed by the `a3` and `b3` libraries. `main3.c` is not compiled with usage requirements from `obj3`, such as `-DOBJ3`.

This approach can be used to achieve transitive inclusion of object files in link lines as usage requirements. Continuing the above example, the code

    add_library(iface_obj3 INTERFACE)
    target_link_libraries(iface_obj3 INTERFACE obj3 $<TARGET_OBJECTS:obj3>)

creates an interface library `iface_obj3` that forwards the `obj3` usage requirements and adds the `obj3` object files to dependents' link lines. The code

    add_executable(use_obj3 use_obj3.c)
    target_link_libraries(use_obj3 PRIVATE iface_obj3)

compiles `use_obj3.c` with `-DOBJ3` and links executable `use_obj3` with object files from `use_obj3.c` and `obj3.c`.

This also works transitively through a static library. Since a static library does not link, it does not consume the object files from object libraries referenced this way. Instead, the object files become transitive link dependencies of the static library. Continuing the above example, the code

    add_library(static3 STATIC static3.c)
    target_link_libraries(static3 PRIVATE iface_obj3)

    add_executable(use_static3 use_static3.c)
    target_link_libraries(use_static3 PRIVATE static3)

compiles `static3.c` with `-DOBJ3` and creates `libstatic3.a` using only its own object file. `use_static3.c` is compiled without `-DOBJ3` because the usage requirement is not transitive through the private dependency of `static3`. However, the link dependencies of `static3` are propagated, including the `iface_obj3` reference to `$<TARGET_OBJECTS:obj3>`. The `use_static3` executable is created with object files from `use_static3.c` and `obj3.c`, and linked to library `libstatic3.a`.

When using this approach, it is the project's responsibility to avoid linking multiple dependent binaries to `iface_obj3`, because they will all get the `obj3` object files on their link lines.

Note

Referencing `$<TARGET_OBJECTS>` in `target_link_libraries` calls worked in versions of CMake prior to 3.21 for some cases, but was not fully supported:

- It did not place the object files before libraries on link lines.

- It did not add an ordering dependency on the object library.

- It did not work in Xcode with multiple architectures.

## Cyclic Dependencies of Static Libraries

The library dependency graph is normally acyclic (a DAG), but in the case of mutually-dependent `STATIC` libraries CMake allows the graph to contain cycles (strongly connected components). When another target links to one of the libraries, CMake repeats the entire connected component. For example, the code

    add_library(A STATIC a.c)
    add_library(B STATIC b.c)
    target_link_libraries(A B)
    target_link_libraries(B A)
    add_executable(main main.c)
    target_link_libraries(main A)

links `main` to `A B A B`. While one repetition is usually sufficient, pathological object file and symbol arrangements can require more. One may handle such cases by using the `LINK_INTERFACE_MULTIPLICITY` target property or by manually repeating the component in the last `target_link_libraries` call. However, if two archives are really so interdependent they should probably be combined into a single archive, perhaps by using Object Libraries.

## Creating Relocatable Packages

Note that it is not advisable to populate the `INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES` of a target with absolute paths to dependencies. That would hard-code into installed packages the library file paths for dependencies as found on the machine the package was made on.

See the Creating Relocatable Packages section of the `cmake-packages(7)` manual for discussion of additional care that must be taken when specifying usage requirements while creating packages for redistribution.

## See Also

- `target_compile_definitions()`

- `target_compile_features()`

- `target_compile_options()`

- `target_include_directories()`

- `target_link_directories()`

- `target_link_options()`

- `target_precompile_headers()`

- `target_sources()`