In Linux, what is a symbolic link?

A symbolic link in Linux serves as a shortcut to another file or directory. It functions as a pointer that directs the system to the target file or directory, allowing users to access it from different locations within the filesystem hierarchy without duplicating the actual file data. This is particularly useful for creating convenient access points to files and directories that are located within deeply nested paths or for enabling easier file management by linking to frequently used resources.

Symbolic links are different from hard links; while a hard link points directly to the file's inode (the underlying data structure), a symbolic link contains a pathname that resolves to the target file or directory. This allows symbolic links to link to directories and point to files across different filesystems.

The other options describe different types of files or concepts within a Linux system but do not accurately represent the purpose and function of a symbolic link. For instance, a file for storing binaries directly refers to executable files, while temporary files are short-lived and used for current processing tasks. Configuration files, on the other hand, contain settings for system processes and applications. None of these accurately capture the essence of what a symbolic link does in a Linux environment.