Multiple references to a single object Messages may be sent to the object via any of its aliases A resulting state change will be detectable by all
Aliases are small pointer files that "point" to actual files An alias is typically only 6-10K in size, even if the original item is hundreds of Megabytes in size Examples of good, common aliases are: The Control Panels folder alias in your Apple Menu Items folder and aliases of remote Macs that you often connect to Aliases can be recognized in the Finder by their Italic names This concept carries over to UNIX File Systems as "Symbolic Links"