Each hard linked file is assigned the same Inode value as the original, therefore they reference the same physical file location.

Links have actual file contents.

If original file is removed, then the link will still show the content of the file.

Hard link is a mirror copy of the original file. Deleting the original file will not impact anything, because the hard link file, will act as a mirror copy of the original file.

Hard links are also shortcuts to files, but a hard link cannot be created for a folder or file available on a different file system. A hard link is basically a second filename for the same file.

It makes efficient use of disc space by avoiding the unnecessary creation of record blocks.
The speed of Hard Links is fast.
You can’t not hard link directories as compared to soft links.

ln [original filename] [link name]

ln file_name new_hard_link_name
ls test_hard_link.txt new_hard_link

unlink new_symlink
Deleting the original file will not impact anything.

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