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# destinationOfSymbolicLink(atPath:)

Returns the path of the item pointed to by a symbolic link.

```
func destinationOfSymbolicLink(atPath path: String) throws -> String
```

## Parameters

`path`

The path of a file or directory.

## Return Value

An [`NSString`](/documentation/Foundation/NSString) object containing the path of the directory or file to which the symbolic link `path` refers. When using Objective-C, returns `nil` upon failure. If the symbolic link is specified as a relative path, that relative path is returned.

## Discussion

> Handling Errors in Swift:
> In Swift, this method returns a nonoptional result and is marked with the `throws` keyword to indicate that it throws an error in cases of failure.
> 
> You call this method in a `try` expression and handle any errors in the `catch` clauses of a `do` statement, as described in [Error Handling](https://docs.swift.org/swift-book/LanguageGuide/ErrorHandling.html) in [The Swift Programming Language](https://docs.swift.org/swift-book/) and `About Imported Cocoa Error Parameters`.

---

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