Apple Certified Support Professional (ACSP) Practice Exam

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Prepare for the Apple Certified Support Professional Test with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question includes hints and explanations to maximize your success on the exam!

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How is a symbolic link affected when the original file is moved?

It remains intact and points to the new location
It becomes broken and no longer points to a valid file
It automatically updates to reflect the new location
It deletes the original link

The correct answer is: It becomes broken and no longer points to a valid file

A symbolic link, commonly referred to as a symlink, is a reference that points to another file or directory in the filesystem. When the original file that a symbolic link points to is moved, the symlink does not automatically update to follow the new location of the file. In this situation, the symbolic link retains the old path where the original file existed. Since the original file is no longer at that path after the move, the link becomes "broken," meaning it no longer points to a valid file. When a user tries to access the symlink, they will receive an error indicating that the target of the link cannot be found. This behavior underscores the need for managing symbolic links carefully, especially in environments where files may frequently be relocated. The other options suggest scenarios that do not occur: the symlink does not remain intact with a new path, does not update automatically, and it certainly does not delete itself; it simply points to a nonexistent target after the original file has been moved.