Which statement correctly describes a hard link?

• A. Hard links copy the file data to a new inode using cp.
• B. Hard links point to the inode; cannot link directories; create with ln file linkname
• C. Symbolic links point to a path; create with ln -s file linkname
• D. Hard links can link directories; create with ln file linkname

Answer: (B)

A hard link is simply another directory entry that references the same inode as the original file. Because both names point to the same inode, they share the same file content and metadata. Deleting one name does not remove the data from disk until all links to that inode are removed, so the file continues to exist as long as at least one link remains. Hard links must stay on the same filesystem (they rely on the inode structure of that filesystem) and they cannot be used to link directories, which helps prevent cycles and confusion. They are created with a simple link operation, for example using a command like ln originalfile linkname.

The other statements don’t fit: copying data with a standard copy command creates a new file with its own inode and data blocks, not a hard link. A symbolic link, created with ln -s, is a separate file that stores a path to another file, not the same inode. And hard links are not used to link directories in typical Unix-like systems.