For example, i-node 798 contains a memo regarding June sales in the Omaha office. Using the ln command, links are created to these directories. When you use the pg or cat command to view the contents of any of the three file names, the same information is displayed. If you edit the contents of the i-node from any of the three file names, the contents of the data displayed by all of the file names will reflect any changes. Removing Linked Files Types of Links Links are created with the ln command.
Hard links ensure the existence of a file.
When the last hard link is removed, the i-node and its data are deleted. Hard links can be created only between files that are in the same file system. The symbolic link is a special type of file that contains a path name. When a process encounters a symbolic link, the process may search that path. Symbolic links do not protect a file from deletion from the file system.