Linux Crash Course - Symbolic Links

In this episode of Linux Crash Course, we take a look at symbolic links, aka "symlinks" aka "soft links". In addition, a brief discussion on inodes is featured, as well as the difference between soft links and hard links.

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#LinuxEssentials #symlink #CLI

[larrywilliams]

I've been a Linux user full time since 2004, dabbled in Linux (and Unix) since the early 90s, and only now do I haver a clearer understanding of inodes and links. Thank you.

[k.chriscaldwell]

Thank you.

An easier way to use the full path when creating a link:

Create a soft symbolic link to a file using long path: ln -s $(readlink -f FILE) $(readlink -f ~/Dir01/Dir02/Dir03)

This will retrieve and use the full path to the original file and target directory.

[spruce-bogey]

Hard links can indeed be copied or moved to other media just like any other file (18:06). But a hard link cannot _reference_ a file outside of the file system that it's on. Every file is a hard link. When a file is created, there is one hard link to that file. Additional hard links can be created, basically giving additional names to the same file. The second field returned by the *ls -l* command (after the permission string) gives the number of hard links to a file. The file content is not removed until the last hard link to a file is removed.

[kelsangsherab]

Many thanx. I couldn't understand why the symlink where not working. Put the complete path and it now does.thank you.
Your videos are informative and well explained.

[MrLopez-kzzl]

Thanks Jay, now I understand clearly the relationship between nodes and soft links and hard links even I seldom used it.

[strifef]

I love the piece by piece explanations Jay!!! Keep up the great Linux content!

[rvamark]

Very helpful video, thank you! As a long time Microsoft user (since MS-Dos 1.1 and Win 3.0) I have always wondered if there was a "shortcut" capability in Linux. Now that Microsoft has forced me away from Windows (for too many reasons to list here), I am learning Linux and slowly transitioning my home systems to it as well. It appears you have answered my quest with your video. Thank you so much for your explanations.

[chrits]

Thanks for the detailed video tutorial. I am currently studying for RHSA and needed details.

[greenfairy]

Thankyou for this video. I have subscribed and liked. I am in college for cybersecurity and am taking Linix Admin class and this video has helped me very much.

[ChristianPadilla-zzhs]

can't believe this is free out here. Thanks for the great explanation.

[hofpv]

I don't know why but i believe everything this two person describe. Great video thank u.

[attutorials]

Great tutorial! I did not even notice how these 30 minutes passed!

[ShrirajHegde]

DING (desktop icons NG) allows drag drop support

[juliettetworsey]

Thank you Jay for this awesome tutorial on symbolic links!

[reveng]

dude.. the information I get from your videos is INVALUABLE!!
Thank you very much for your great work!

[srsr]

Amazing work Jay any light on root file & shadow file would be greatly appreciated

[BrucesWorldofStuff]

Symlinks are very useful like you stated. Also true don't go nuts with them... One good use case is a script that is not in your path but you want to use it, so a symlink works well for that. I do that on several files on my desktop that are link to files on my server master document folder, that works well from all my desktops... :-)
I also symlinked a few directories on my server which are on another drive in the server... They work great, just don't make a sym of a sym that will muck up the works... LOL
Thanks for the video!
LLAP

[garethsutcliffe]

Superb video, as always. You've been a massive help to me delving into Linux.
On a different note, the colours in the video seem a bit washed out, not noticed that on your other videos.

[kadirsuzen]

love the content love the way of explaining

[ropperish]

Your crontributions to the comunity are so huge Jay!! Thank you very much. There should be a Linux distro named after you. Jaynux!! 🤣