===Linking Files===

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[[Image:inode-number-3.png|thumb|right|500px|The '''inode number''' is like a '''finger-print''', and is considered to be '''unique''' for each file on the Unix / Linux file system.]]

The '''inode number''' is like a '''finger-print''', and is considered to be '''unique''' for each file on the Unix / Linux file system.<br><br>Referring to the diagram on the far right, issuing the '''ls''' command with the '''-i''' option<br>displays the inode number for each file. You can see that <u>each</u> file<br>(whether it is a directory or regular file) has its own unique inode number.

'''Hard Links:'''

A '''Hard link''' is a '''reference''' to the physical data on a file system.