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What is Symlinks and how to use it

When working with files and directories, you may have heard of symbolic links (often called symlinks). They are widely used in Linux, macOS, and even Windows (via WSL or shortcuts) to make file management smarter and more efficient.

In this guide, we’ll cover:

  1. What is a Symlink?

  2. Why Do We Need Symlinks?

  3. Practical Scenarios Where Symlinks Are Useful

  4. How to Create a Symlink (with macOS Example)

  5. Tips and Best Practices


1. What is a Symlink?

A symbolic link (or symlink) is a type of file that points to another file or directory, much like a shortcut.

  • On Linux/macOS, they’re created via the ln -s command.

  • On Windows, you can create them using mklink.

Unlike copying a file, a symlink doesn’t duplicate data. Instead, it tells the operating system, “when someone opens me, go to that original file.”

So, in short, A symlink is nothing but a path pointer to another file/folder.


2. Why Do We Need Symlinks?

Symlinks exist because sometimes you want files or folders to be accessible in multiple places without duplication. Benefits include:

  • Save storage space by avoiding duplicate copies.

  • Keep consistency: update the original file once, and every symlink reflects it.

  • Flexibility in file paths: if software expects files in a certain directory, you can “redirect” that path.

  • Organization: make large or shared resources accessible without moving them.


3. Real-Life Scenarios for Symlinks

Here are a few examples that show how symlinks help in everyday workflows:

A. Shared Resources in Projects

Instead of copying common assets (like images or scripts) into multiple project folders, you create symlinks pointing to a master folder.

B. Configuration Files

Developers often keep dotfiles (.zshrc, .gitconfig) in a GitHub repo or cloud drive. With symlinks, they can place those files in their home directory without duplication.

C. Storage Management

Move heavy folders (like Videos or Downloads or LLM files) to an external drive but create symlinks in your home folder so apps still think the files are “local.”

D. Backward Compatibility

If you rename or reorganize a folder, you can create a symlink from the old path to the new one so older scripts/programs still work.


4. How to Create a Symlink (Example on macOS/Linux)

Creating a symlink is simple in macOS/Linux using the Terminal:

Syntax

ln -s [source] [destination]

  • source → the original file or directory

  • destination → the symlink you want to create

Example

You have a folder:

  • /Users/mukitulislam/MyFolder

You want a symlink to it to an external SSD folder, so hit this command:

  • ln -s /Users/mukitulislam/MyFolder ~/Volumes/T7/MUKITUL-WORKSPACE/MyExternalFolder

In this way, you can symlink MyExternalFolder on an external SSD to behave like the real folder.


5. Best Practices

  • Verify symlinks: Use ls -l to see where a symlink points.

  • Delete safely: Removing a symlink with rm does not delete the original file.

  • Avoid loops: Don’t point symlinks back to themselves—it can break scripts or cause errors.


Conclusion

Symlinks are a universal concept across Linux, macOS, and Windows. It provides a powerful way to simplify file organization, save space, and make workflows more flexible.

If you’re on macOS or Linux, try creating one using the ln -s command today. If you’re on Windows, check out the mklink command in Command Prompt or PowerShell.

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