03-30-2010
Deleting Symbolic and/or Hard links
From what I understand a symbolic link is alot like a shortcut where it points to another file. if the original file is deleted the symbolic link is rendered useless but a symbolic link can be deleted without any problem.
A hard link is like a copy of the file itself but pointing to the same data on the HDD. if the original file is deleted the hardlink will still work and behave just like the original file. If the hardlink is deleted the original remains and works as normal.
is this correct? if so, why do people say hardlinks are dangerous?
The reason I ask is because I need to delete some incremental backup files from a samba share and I'm a little scared of causing data loss by deleting things I shouldn't.
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SYMLINK(3) 1 SYMLINK(3)
symlink - Creates a symbolic link
SYNOPSIS
bool symlink (string $target, string $link)
DESCRIPTION
symlink(3) creates a symbolic link to the existing $target with the specified name $link.
PARAMETERS
o $target
- Target of the link.
o $link
- The link name.
RETURN VALUES
Returns TRUE on success or FALSE on failure.
CHANGELOG
+--------+---------------------------------------------------+
|Version | |
| | |
| | Description |
| | |
+--------+---------------------------------------------------+
| 5.3.0 | |
| | |
| | This function is now available on Windows plat- |
| | forms (Vista, Server 2008 or greater). |
| | |
+--------+---------------------------------------------------+
EXAMPLES
Example #1
Create a symbolic link
<?php
$target = 'uploads.php';
$link = 'uploads';
symlink($target, $link);
echo readlink($link);
?>
NOTES
Note
Windows users should note that this function will only work if the system you run PHP from is Windows Vista/Windows Server 2008 or
newer. Windows versions prior to that do not support symbolic links.
SEE ALSO
link(3), readlink(3), linkinfo(3).
PHP Documentation Group SYMLINK(3)