A comparison of symbolic link types in Windows and Cygwin

1 (Symlink File) 2 (Symlink Directory) 3 (Junction Point) 4 (Cygwin Symlink) 5 (Hard Link) 6 (Shortcut .LNK)
Official Name (Windows) Symbolic Link (for files) Symbolic Link (for directories) Junction Point (Directory Junction) (No official Windows name) Hard Link Shortcut (.LNK File)
Name/Context in Cygwin Native Symbolic Link Native Symbolic Link Junction Point / (Sometimes as Symlink) Cygwin Symlink (default) Hard Link Regular File (.lnk)
Link Type File Directory Directory File or Directory File File
What it can point to (Target) File Directory Directory File or Directory Same file data (not path) File, Directory, URL, Program, etc.
Where the target can be located Same volume, another local volume, network (SMB) Same volume, another local volume, network (SMB) Local volumes only (not network) Any path resolvable by Cygwin Same volume only Anywhere
Creation (Standard tools) mklink <link> <target> mklink /D <link> <target> mklink /J <link> <target> ln -s (in Cygwin without winsymlinks:*) mklink /H ..., fsutil ..., ln ... Right-click -> Create shortcut
Required permissions (default) Administrator / Developer Mode Administrator / Developer Mode Usually none Standard file creation permissions Standard file creation permissions Standard file creation permissions
Recognition in Windows (Explorer, dir) Yes, <SYMLINK> Yes, <SYMLINKD> Yes, <JUNCTION> No. As a file with SYSTEM attribute No. As a regular file Yes, as a shortcut (special icon)
Handling in Cygwin (default) May see as 0-byte/special file May see as directory Usually transparent as directory¹ Recognized as symlink. Recognized as hard link (ls -i) Seen as a regular binary file
Handling in Cygwin (winsymlinks:native) Recognized as symlink. Recognized as symlink. Recognized as Junction/special directory Ignored/seen as a regular file Recognized as hard link Seen as a regular binary file
Key features and limitations NTFS (Vista+). Relative/absolute paths. Permissions. NTFS (Vista+). Relative/absolute paths. Permissions. Win2000+. Directories. Absolute paths. Local. Cygwin emulation. Not visible outside Cygwin. Not a path link. Additional name for data. Explorer shell file. Not an FS link.