What is the difference between Hard Link and Soft Link in Linux

Hard link: Hard link refers to "The specific location of physical data".

• Hard Link is a mirror copy of the original file.
• Hard links share the same inode.
• Any changes made to the original or Hard linked file will reflect the other.
• Even if you delete any one of the files, nothing will happen to the other hard links.
• But soft link which points to deleted hard link become a dangling soft link.
• You can't link a directory even within the same file system.
• Hard links can't cross file systems.

Soft link( also called symbolic link): Soft link refers to "A symbolic path indicating the abstract location of another file".

• Soft Link is a symbolic link to the original file.(more like windows shortcuts)
• Soft Links will have a different Inode value.
• Any changes made to the soft link will reflect the original file and its hard links.
• A soft link points to the original file. If you delete the original file, the soft link fails. It would become dangling symbolic link.
• If you delete the soft link, nothing will happen.
• You can link a directory using soft link on same file system and also on other file system.
• Soft links can cross file systems