Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Shortcut (computing)
open-in-new
<p>In <a href="/facts/Computing/Kghtm9fX">computing</a>, a file shortcut is a <a href="/facts/Handle_(computing)/gKL1X2sX">handle</a> in a <a href="/facts/User_interface/e9sPEWVD">user interface</a> that allows the user to find a file or <a href="/facts/System_resource/bX958SEx">resource</a> located in a different <a href="/facts/Directory_(computing)/VLtLcEXY">directory</a> or <a href="/facts/Folder_(computing)/VLtLcEXY">folder</a> from the place where the shortcut is located. Similarly, an Internet shortcut allows the user to open a page, file or resource located at a remote Internet location or Web site. </p><p>Shortcuts are typically implemented as a small file containing a target <a href="/facts/URI/UjyqxTpA">URI</a> or <a href="/facts/Globally_unique_identifier/SUtkYJPe">GUID</a> to an <i>object</i>, or the name of a target program file that the shortcut represents. The shortcut might additionally specify <a href="/facts/Command-line_argument/R9JpGmXQ">parameters</a> to be passed to the target program when it is run. Each shortcut can have its own icon. Shortcuts are very commonly placed on a <a href="/facts/Desktop_environment/VXBpMWnG">desktop</a>, in an <a href="/facts/Application_launcher_panel/Hn3XtISQ">application launcher panel</a> such as the <a href="/facts/Microsoft_Windows/bwhAhuSL">Microsoft Windows</a> <a href="/facts/Start_menu/ubDBJLDX">Start menu</a>, or in the main menu of a <a href="/facts/Desktop_environment/VXBpMWnG">desktop environment</a>. The functional equivalent in the Macintosh operating system is called an <a href="/facts/Alias_(Mac_OS)/0jCqt0zQ">alias</a>. <a href="/facts/Unix-like/YAKrAxzd">Unix-like</a> systems have <a href="/facts/Symbolic_link/laB0S68t">symbolic links</a> which point to a target file, and often support .desktop files which provide additional configuration details. </p>