# target_link_options

Added in version 3.13.

Add options to the link step for an executable, shared library or module library target.

    target_link_options(<target> [BEFORE]
      <INTERFACE|PUBLIC|PRIVATE> [items1...]
      [<INTERFACE|PUBLIC|PRIVATE> [items2...] ...])

The named `<target>` must have been created by a command such as `add_executable()` or `add_library()` and must not be an ALIAS target.

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.

If `BEFORE` is specified, the content will be prepended to the property instead of being appended.

The `INTERFACE`, `PUBLIC` and `PRIVATE` keywords are required to specify the scope of the following arguments. `PRIVATE` and `PUBLIC` items will populate the `LINK_OPTIONS` property of `<target>`. `PUBLIC` and `INTERFACE` items will populate the `INTERFACE_LINK_OPTIONS` property of `<target>`. The following arguments specify link options. Repeated calls for the same `<target>` append items in the order called.

Note

IMPORTED targets only support `INTERFACE` items.

Arguments to `target_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

- `target_compile_definitions()`

- `target_compile_features()`

- `target_compile_options()`

- `target_include_directories()`

- `target_link_libraries()`

- `target_link_directories()`

- `target_precompile_headers()`

- `target_sources()`

- `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.

- The `CheckLinkerFlag` module to check whether a linker flag is supported by the compiler.