Linux links

Quick reminder on links in Linux

ln -s sourceFile linkFile (soft link or symbolic link)

ln sourceFile linkFile (hard link)

If we do

ls -lia 

we can see the inode numbers which will tell us if the link is hard or soft., if they are the same, it s hard link.

• If we have a soft link and delete the source file, only the source file is deleted and the link remains but points to nowhere.
  
• If we have a soft link and we delete the linkFile, only the linkFile is deleted.

 

• If we have a hard link and we delete the source file, only the source file is deleted.
• If we have a hard link and we delete the linkFile, only the linkFile is deleted.

 

• If we have a link and we modify either file, both are modified.