UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

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.

Check this thread

https://www.unix.com/unix-dummies-que...driectory.html

Hardlink is nothing but another entry in the filesystem which point to the same data on the data blocks of the harddisk.
symbolic link is a entry in the filesystem which points to another entry on the filesystem not to the data block

It means that in hardlinks we have two references to same data, if one got deleted other will survive but in symbolic links it refers to the filename not to the data.

thanks ktrimu and amitranjansahu
this is what I thought. it should mean that the hardlink and original file are exactly the same just named differently or in another directory, which means I can delete either one and I will suffer no data loss until all pointers to the file are deleted, but then why are hard links considered dangerous? I remember reading that they should be avoided but I see no reason why. do you know what I should watch out for?