What are the purposes of using symbolic links in Linux?

There are several uses for Linux symbolic links:

1. Simplify file paths: Soft links can be created to point to another file or directory, allowing for easier navigation of file paths. For example, creating a soft link to a commonly used file or directory can help quickly access it from different locations.
2. Cross-file system links: symbolic links can be created between different file systems, allowing for sharing of files or directories between different file systems.
3. Updating applications or libraries: Symbolic links can be used to update applications or libraries. When an application or library needs to be updated, the old version’s symbolic link can be linked to the new version’s file, allowing all programs referencing that symbolic link to automatically use the new version.
4. Bypassing file system restrictions: symbolic links can bypass certain file system restrictions, such as not allowing special characters in file names or exceeding the length limit. Symbolic links can be used to address these issues.
5. Organizing file structure: Symbolic links can be used to organize the file structure. By creating symbolic links, related files or directories can be grouped together for easy management and access.

In conclusion, symbolic links can simplify file paths, link across file systems, update applications or libraries, bypass file system restrictions, and organize file structures.