Windows directory symbolic link vs junction

So, we have selected folder name "New Target Folder" in the D drive and this folder is not reserved in the D partition. So, let's run the command as below:. Then junction is created as shown below in Windows Explorer. It will have small shortcut icons in Junction Folder Link. It is more sophisticated than Junction Links. However, keep in mind that any local or network computer that uses Symbolic Links must be running Windows Vista, Windows Server , or later.

Symbolic Links work for both relative path and absolute path. With the help of Symbolic links we cannot do the following and give you an error:.

Symbolic Links are simply the name of another file, symbolic links can span different supported file systems. As a result, symbolic links can exist across filesystems.

Microsoft introduced Symbolic Links to be more compatible with Unix. Microsoft has implemented symbolic links to function just like UNIX links. We can use the mlink command to create Junction links for folder as follow:.

Junction Links and Symbolic Links seem to have similar features. But there are some noticeable differences and they are as follows:. Also Read: Run multiple commands in one line in Powershell and Cmd.

Also Read: How to sleep or wait in Windows batch file? How do I count word in Microsoft OneNote? The main difference is that, if you are looking at a remote server, junctions are processed at the server and directory symbolic links are processed at the client.

Also see Matthew's comment on the fact that this means symbolic links on the local file system can point to remote file systems. While you're using Alice you won't notice much difference between them.

But if you're using another machine named Bob, then the junction point. Caveat: by default, the system doesn't follow symlinks on remote volumes, so in most cases the second example will actually result in either "File Not Found" or "The symbolic link cannot be followed because its type is disabled. What's the difference between a junction and a symlink symbolic link? How to create a Junction in Windows. How do I know if a directory or folder is a Junction point?

Related junction point pages. Note A junction cannot point to a remote share it must be a directory on the local volume. Related junction point pages See the mklink command for information on creating a junction and symbolic link.