A symlink or "symbolic link" is a Linux file that simply points at another file. If the referenced file is removed, the symlink will remain but not indicate there's a problem until you try to use it.

If you come from the world of Windows, you undoubtedly understand the concept of a shortcut. In the Linux world, shortcuts do exist, but they're generally referred to as symbolic links, or symlinks.

For most Unix users, symbolic links are obvious and natural — a means to make connections that span file systems and avoid the need to keep duplicates of files in multiple file system locations.

Symbolic links, or symlinks, are versatile tools supported by major operating systems like Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS, and Ubuntu. Android and iOS offer limited symlink capabilities, usually for ...