Relative vs Absolute Links in Linux

Links are an essential aspect of file systems, and they allow users to access files or directories with ease. In Linux, there are two types of links: relative links and absolute links. These two types of links differ in how they reference files or directories and in their use cases. In this blog, we will discuss the differences between relative and absolute links and their use cases.

Relative links

A relative link is a link that specifies the location of the target file or directory relative to the location of the link itself. In other words, it contains a path to the target file or directory that is relative to the directory containing the link. For example, if you have a file called “file.txt” in a directory called “mydir”, and you create a relative link to that file in a directory called “mylinkdir”, the link would look something like this: “../mydir/file.txt”. The “../” indicates that the target file is located one directory above the current directory.

One of the main advantages of relative links is that they are portable. If you move the link or the target file, the link will still work as long as the relative location of the target file or directory remains the same. For example, if you move the “mylinkdir” directory to another location, the link will still work as long as the “mydir” directory is located one directory above the current directory.

Relative links are also useful when you want to create links between files or directories that are located on the same file system. Since relative links only reference the location of the target file or directory relative to the location of the link itself, they can be created between files or directories located on the same file system without any issues.

Absolute links

An absolute link, on the other hand, specifies the full path to the target file or directory, starting from the root directory (“/”). This means that the link will always point to the same file or directory, regardless of the current working directory. For example, an absolute link to the “file.txt” file in the “mydir” directory would look like this: “/home/username/mydir/file.txt”.

One of the main advantages of absolute links is that they always point to the same file or directory, regardless of where the link or the target file or directory is moved to. This makes absolute links useful when you want to create links between files or directories located on different file systems or when you want to reference files or directories using an exact path.

Another advantage of absolute links is that they can be used to reference files or directories that have long or complex paths. Since absolute links specify the full path to the target file or directory, they can be used to reference files or directories that have complex paths without the need to type out the entire path every time.

Conclusion

In conclusion, relative links and absolute links are two types of links available in Linux, and they differ in how they reference files or directories and in their use cases. Relative links are portable and useful when you want to create links between files or directories located on the same file system, while absolute links are useful when you want to reference files or directories using an exact path or when you want to create links between files or directories located on different file systems. By understanding the differences between relative and absolute links, you can choose the appropriate link type for your use case and make the most out of the links available in Linux.

Relative vs Absolute Links in Linux