The Link Display rollout provides controls that alter the display of hierarchical linkages.
Interface

- Display Links
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Displays a wireframe representation of any hierarchical links affecting the selected object.
Note: Display Links must be turned on in order to see Joint Limits on a inverse kinematics chain. - Link Replaces Object
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Replaces the selected object with the wireframe representation of the hierarchical link. This option offers another way to reduce the geometric complexity of selected objects in a scene. See also Display Properties rollout.
The Draw Links As Lines option on the Viewports panel of the Preference Settings dialog further reduces the display of links to a single line.