(1) (n.) An entry in a directory file that links a user-assigned name for a file to the system's identification number for that file.(2) (n.) A file name the user gives to a file. See also hard link, symbolic link.(3) (n.) In Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP), the communications connection that is negotiated and established between two peers. SolarisTM PPP 4.0 supports two types of links, dial up and leased line.(4) (v.) To join data or compiled modules to form an executable program.

a directory entry that refers to a file. There are two kinds of links-- hard and soft--both using the ln command. A hard link is indistinguishable from an original directory entry; it may not span file systems or refer to directories. A soft or symbolic link contains the name of the file to which it is linked; it may span file systems and refer to directories.

a Windows shortcut, which is represented by a special type of file having the .LNK or .URL extension. To avoid confusion with Montage Shortcuts, we use the term link as the preferred way of referring to Windows "shortcuts".

reference to an inode in a directory, therefore giving a (file) name to the inode. Examples of inodes which don't have a link (and hence have no name) are: anonymous pipes (as used by the shell), sockets (aka network connections), network devices and so on.

Ability to get erroneous information from a file without actually loading it into memory.

A filename that points to another file. Links let you access a single file from multiple directories without storing multiple copies of the file. If you make a change to the content of a linked file, the change is reflected in each of the links. All links point to an inode. See also symbolic link.

hard Directory entry that provides an alias to another file that is in the same filesystem. Multiple entries appear in the directory (or other directories) for one physical file without replication of the contents. 2. soft See symbolic link. 3. symbolic Directory entry that provides an alias to another file that can be in another filesystem. Multiple entries appear in the directory for one physical file without replication of the contents. Implemented through link files; see also link file. 4. file File used to implement a symbolic link producing an alias on one filesystem for a file on another. The file only contains the fully qualified filename of the original (linked-to) file.

A special file that looks and acts like an ordinary file or folder. When you open it, however, you actually access the contents of a file or folder that is somewhere else in the file system.

An association between a name and the object in an HDF5 file group.

One of the names by which a file is called. See also, hard link and symbolic link.

combines two or more separately compiled object modules into one executable file. Linking ensures that any references among the separate object modules are resolved.

This term describes an association created between a patient address and the Postcode Address File (PAF).

A directory entry referring to a file; one file may have several links to it.