If a characteristic is sex-linked, how does it affect the inheritance pattern of that trait?

When a characteristic is sex-linked, it is located on a sex chromosome (usually the X chromosome). This affects the inheritance pattern because males have only one X chromosome, so they will express any sex-linked trait on that chromosome. Females have two X chromosomes, so they may be carriers of the trait without expressing it. This can result in different inheritance patterns for males and females.