# CMAKE_LINKER_TYPE

Added in version 3.29.

Specify which linker will be used for the link step.

This variable is used to initialize the `LINKER_TYPE` property on each target created by a call to `add_library()` or `add_executable()`. It is meaningful only for targets having a link step. If set, its value is also used by the `try_compile()` command.

Note

It is assumed that the linker specified is fully compatible with the default one the compiler would normally invoke. CMake will not do any option translation.

Linker types are case-sensitive and may only contain letters, numbers and underscores. Linker types defined in all uppercase are reserved for CMake's own built-in types. The pre-defined linker types are:

`DEFAULT`

  This type corresponds to standard linking, essentially equivalent to the `LINKER_TYPE` target property not being set at all.

`SYSTEM`

  Use the standard linker provided by the platform or toolchain. For example, this implies the Microsoft linker for all MSVC-compatible compilers. This type is supported for the following platform-compiler combinations:

  - Linux: `GNU`, `Clang`, `LLVMFlang`, `NVIDIA`, and `Swift` compilers.

  - Apple platforms: `AppleClang`, `Clang`, `GNU`, and `Swift` compilers.

  - Windows: `MSVC`, `GNU`, `Clang`, `NVIDIA`, and `Swift` compilers.

`LLD`

  Use the `LLVM` linker. This type is supported for the following platform-compiler combinations:

  - Linux: `GNU`, `Clang`, `LLVMFlang`, `NVIDIA`, and `Swift` compilers.

  - Apple platforms: `Clang`, `AppleClang`, and `Swift` compilers.

  - Windows: `GNU`, `Clang` with MSVC-like front-end, `Clang` with GNU-like front-end, `MSVC`, `NVIDIA` with MSVC-like front-end, and `Swift`.

`BFD`

  Use the `GNU` linker. This type is supported for the following platform-compiler combinations:

  - Linux: `GNU`, `Clang`, `LLVMFlang`, and `NVIDIA` compilers.

  - Windows: `GNU`, `Clang` with GNU-like front-end.

`GOLD`

  Supported on Linux platform with `GNU`, `Clang`, `LLVMFlang`, `NVIDIA`, and `Swift` compilers.

`MOLD`

  Use the mold linker. This type is supported on the following platform-compiler combinations:

  - Linux: `GNU`, `Clang`, `LLVMFlang`, and `NVIDIA` compilers.

  - Apple platforms: `Clang` and `AppleClang` compilers (acts as an alias to the sold linker).

`SOLD`

  Use the sold linker. This type is only supported on Apple platforms with `Clang` and `AppleClang` compilers.

`APPLE_CLASSIC`

  Use the Apple linker in the classic behavior (i.e. before `Xcode 15.0`). This type is only supported on Apple platforms with `GNU`, `Clang`, `AppleClang`, and `Swift` compilers.

`MSVC`

  Use the Microsoft linker. This type is only supported on the Windows platform with `MSVC`, `Clang` with MSVC-like front-end, and `Swift` compilers.