====== BASH - Files - Difference between a copy of a file and a hard link ======

^Item^Number of Files^Edit the File^Delete the File^Disk Space Used^
|copy|2 files|The other file is unchanged.|The other file remains.|Twice as much disk space used (two different files)|
|hard link|1 file|The other file is also edited.|The other file remains.|Only one file on disk.|
|soft link|1 file + 1 link|The other file is also edited.|If you delete the file the link is broken.|
|:::|:::|:::|If you remove the link the file stays in place.|Only one file on disk.|

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copy:

  * There will be two different versions of the file.
  * if you edit one, the other one stays the same.
  * if you delete one, the other one stays there, but it may not be identical if it was edited.
  * Twice as much disk space used (two different files).

hard link:

  * There will be one file with two different filenames.
  * If you edit one, it gets edited in all filename locations.
  * if you delete one, it still exists in other places.
  * Only one file on disk.

soft link:

  * There is one file with one filename and a pointer to that file with the other filename.
  * if you edit the link its really editing the original file.
  * if you delete the file the link is broken.
  * if you remove the link the file stays in place.
  * Only one file on disk.