File shortcut
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The file link (short link ) is a reference to a file or a directory in the file system of a computer. It is used by any number of points on a once existing file to reference. Unlike hyperlinks ( URL-encoded links) are file associations usually local, that is, the references and their goals are on the same computer system.
Shortcut, alias file, hard and soft links
In a narrower sense, as a file link, only the shortcut ( en.: " spatial abbreviation" ) referred to in Microsoft Windows. Windows shortcuts are visible *. Lnk at the file extension and contain the path name of the destination file. The alias file in old and new versions of the Mac OS is itself a file, but does not contain the path to the target file, but a file identifier, the original can thus be moved freely in contrast to the link. In addition, there is in Unix-like systems, so-called desktop shortcuts that are usually recognized by the extension *. Desktop. These desktop shortcuts are text files, which are composed of an INI files like structure. You can define a path or command, labels, help texts, symbols, and various other attributes that can interpret and execute a graphical desktop environments like KDE Plasma Workspaces or Gnome.
In opposite to symbolic links (also: soft links ) and hard links (also: hard links) are file associations for the calling application, and user is not transparent because they are not integrated into the file system. This means that the executing program recognize the link itself, interpret, and must jump to the target.
The file links different operating systems are usually not compatible with other systems. Desktop shortcuts of Unix-like systems work under Windows just as Windows shortcuts on Unix. Why should be not be used concurrency of different operating systems on network shares, if possible.