hardlink
Same inode reference
A hardlink is a directory entry that points directly to a file's data on disk, creating multiple names for the same underlying content.
Unlike a symbolic link, which points to a filename, a hardlink shares the actual file—deleting one hardlink leaves others intact, and the data persists until all hardlinks are removed.
The backup system uses hardlinks to save space.
filesystem
Filesystem path redirect
- directoryFile system container
- pathRoute for traveling
- referenceDirecting attention elsewhere
- pointerReference to memory location
shortcut · alias · mount · volume · partition · NTFS · UNIX · Linux
symlink
Filesystem path redirect
pointer · shortcut · alias · mount · volume · partition · NTFS · UNIX · Linux · Windows
file
Stored collection of data
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
- redundancyNeedless duplication
- replicationAct of duplicating precisely
archive · duplicate · copy · snapshot · clone · sector · cluster · drive · disk · allocation
metadata
Descriptive information about content
- entryAccess or submission
- nodeConnection point in networks
- addressingSpeaking to or handling
- filesystemsfilesystem, directories, FAT32, folders, filename
- Unix filesystemroot, home, bin, etc, dev