Microsoft has implemented linking tools in its NTFS operating file systems since Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000. These links provide a convenient method for users to access their data.

Over the years Microsoft continued to improve these tools which can now be used to link files and/or directories together. The latest form of file link was introduced in Windows Vista and continues to form part of their latest operating system. In this article we will look at what these file links are and how they differ from one another.
What are NTFS Hard Links, Junctions and Symbolic Links?

Hard links, junction points and symbolic links are linking processes used by Windows to associate other files, directories or volumes. One of the methods to create file links is to use the command line program mklink:

• To create a file hard link: mklink /H linkName target
• To create a directory junction: mklink /J linkName target
• To create a directory symbolic link: mklink /D linkName target
• To create a file symbolic link: mklink linkName target

The following sections describe each type of file link in detail.