What is a symbolic link in Linux?

A symbolic link in Linux is indeed a reference that points to another file or directory. This type of link allows you to create a shortcut or alias for a file or directory, enabling you to access it by a different name or location without duplicating the actual data.

Unlike hard links, which create an additional directory entry for a file in the filesystem, symbolic links are separate files that contain a path to the target file or directory. This means when you create a symbolic link, you maintain a pointer to the original file or directory instead of making a copy, which helps save space and ensure that changes made to the original file are immediately reflected when accessed via the symbolic link.

For instance, if you want to access a file located in a deeply nested directory, you can create a symbolic link in a more convenient location. This functionality is particularly useful for organizing projects, managing system configurations, or simplifying access to frequently used files.