# \[Unix\]\[C\] Similarities between Unix symlinks and C/C++ pointers/references

DevFeed: [\[Unix\]\[C\] Similarities between Unix symlinks and C/C++ pointers/references](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/unix-c-similarities-between-unix-symlinks-and-c-c-pointers-references-20581.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://yurichev.com/blog/symlink/>)

Published: 2025-12-03T23:00:00Z

Content type: comparison

Language: en

Sources: [Dennis Yurichev](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/dennis-yurichev.md>)

Topics: [Unix](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/unix.md>), [C](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/c.md>), [C++](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/c-plus-plus.md>), [Programming](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/programming.md>)

Tags: [blog-post](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/blog-post.md>), [c](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/c.md>), [c-plus-plus](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/c-plus-plus.md>), [unix](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/unix.md>)

## AI overview

This article compares Unix symbolic links with C and C++ pointers and references. It explains the analogy between copying a symlink and dereferencing it, and between copying a pointer and copying the referenced object.

## Source excerpt

[Unix][C] Similarities between Unix symlinks and C/C++ pointers/references