Hard links and their limitations

Hard Links and Their Limits

A hard link is like giving a file an extra name that points to the exact same data on the disk. When you create a hard link, you're not copying the file; you're just creating another way to access the same file content.

However, there are two important limits to what hard links can do:

1. Cannot span across file systems:

   • Think of a file system like a separate container (e.g., your /home directory might be on one disk or partition, and /mnt/usb on another).

   • A hard link must stay inside the same container because it points directly to the physical location of data on the disk. If the data is on another file system, the hard link doesn't know how to reach it.

2. Cannot span across directories (in some cases):

   • Traditionally, hard links can't be made to directories because it could create circular paths and confuse the system about the file structure.

   • This limitation is more about maintaining the organization and safety of the file system.

So, in summary:

• Hard links are like extra names for a file, but they only work within the same "container" (file system).

• They typically can't link to directories to keep the file system orderly.