Unix: softlinks, hardlinks

Posted by sixtyfootersdude on Super User See other posts from Super User or by sixtyfootersdude
Published on 2010-03-08T17:37:47Z Indexed on 2010/03/08 17:51 UTC
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unix

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link

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softlink

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hardlink

I am somewhat confused what the differences between a softlink, and a hardlink are (on unix).

It seems like a softlink is the same as a shortcut in windows or an alias on Mac OS X. (Can someone confirm this?) Softlinks can link to both directories and files.

I am uncertain of what a hardlink does or if it is useful..

Is it better to use one instead of the other?

Thanks.

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