What is a Symbolic Link?
Symbolic Link (often abbreviated as “symlink”) refers to a “proxy file” or “shortcut” in UNIX-based operating systems.
In Simple Terms
A symbolic link is like a “stand-in file” that points to another file or folder. It acts as a reference to the actual file or folder, similar to how a shortcut works in Windows.
In Detail
- Proxy File:
- A symbolic link does not contain the actual content. Instead, it serves as a reference or pointer to another file or folder.
- For instance, if you have a file named
fileA
, creating a symbolic linklinkA
will allow you to accessfileA
throughlinkA
.
- How it Works:
- When you access or open the symbolic link, it redirects you to the actual file or folder. It behaves as if you are interacting directly with the original file.
- The symbolic link itself does not hold any data; it just points to where the data is located.
- Comparison to Windows Shortcuts:
- In Windows, shortcuts serve a similar purpose to symbolic links. They act as pointers to files or folders but are specific to the Windows operating system.
- Symbolic links in UNIX-based systems (like Linux) work similarly but are more flexible and powerful in many cases.
- Example:
- Imagine a popular restaurant in a remote location that wants to have a presence in a city. Instead of opening a new restaurant in the city, they set up a small ordering counter that directs customers to the main restaurant. The counter in the city acts as a symbolic link to the actual restaurant in the remote location.
- Key Points:
- Deleting the symbolic link does not affect the original file or folder. The original file remains intact.
- Symbolic links are useful for creating references to files or folders without duplicating the actual content.
In Summary
When you encounter the term “symbolic link”, think of it as a “proxy file” that points to another file or folder, much like a shortcut in Windows.