Every file or folder created in a Linux system is associated with an iNode. The name given to the file is mapped to the inode created.

Hard Link

The below command creates two hard links to the a new files

[root@centos9vm ~]# touch shiju_default.txt
[root@centos9vm ~]# ls -l | grep shiju
-rw-r–r–. 1 root root 0 Feb 11 18:26 shiju_default.txt

[root@centos9vm ~]# link shiju_default.txt shiju_hardlink1.txt
[root@centos9vm ~]# link shiju_default.txt shiju_hardlink2.txt

[root@centos9vm ~]# ls -l | grep shiju
-rw-r–r–. 3 root root 0 Feb 11 18:26 shiju_default.txt
-rw-r–r–. 3 root root 0 Feb 11 18:26 shiju_hardlink1.txt
-rw-r–r–. 3 root root 0 Feb 11 18:26 shiju_hardlink2.txt

Notice the value “3” in the above result of “ls” command. The 3 indicates that there are three filenames associated with the same iNode.

The below command shows the inode ID 4300558 and the files associated with it

[root@centos9vm ~]# ls -il shiju*
4300558 -rw-r–r–. 3 root root 0 Feb 11 18:26 shiju_default.txt
4300558 -rw-r–r–. 3 root root 0 Feb 11 18:26 shiju_hardlink1.txt
4300558 -rw-r–r–. 3 root root 0 Feb 11 18:26 shiju_hardlink2.txt

Deleting the default file or a hard link will not delete the inode nor the other filenames associated with the inode.

[root@centos9vm ~]# rm -f shiju_default.txt
[root@centos9vm ~]# ls -il shiju*
4300558 -rw-r–r–. 2 root root 0 Feb 11 18:26 shiju_hardlink1.txt
4300558 -rw-r–r–. 2 root root 0 Feb 11 18:26 shiju_hardlink2.txt

We cannot create hard links between files or folders in different partitions.

Soft Link

A soft-link links a filename to a default file, not to the actual inode directly.

[root@centos9vm ~]# touch shiju_default.txt
[root@centos9vm ~]# ln -s shiju_default.txt shiju_default-sLink.txt
[root@centos9vm ~]# ls -il
[root@centos9vm ~]# ls -il | grep shiju
4300559 lrwxrwxrwx. 1 root root 17 Feb 11 20:04 shiju_default-sLink.txt -> shiju_default.txt
4300558 -rw-r–r–. 1 root root 0 Feb 11 18:41 shiju_default.txt

We can create hard links between files or folders even in different partitions.