How do you determine using stat() whether a file is a symbolic link?

Question

I basically have to write a clone of the UNIX ls command for a class, and I\'ve got almost everything working. One thing I can\'t seem to figure out how to do is check wheth

Answer 1

You can't.

You need to use lstat() to stat the link itself, plain stat() will follow the link, and thus never "see" the link itself.