What Is an Alias on a Mac?
When most people think of the word “alias,” they don’t necessarily think about computers. In Mac OS X, an alias is like a shortcut to a file or application. You can create an alias of any item on your Mac and add it to any location for easy access. Unlike the Dock, which is only compatible with applications and folders, you can use an alias with any type of file.
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Why Use An Alias?
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The primary reason to create an alias is because you want easy access to an application or file but you don’t want to move it from its location on your Mac. For example, if you have an application that you want to access from your Desktop without moving it out of your Applications folder or adding it to your Dock, you can create an alias. Creating aliases takes up a minimal amount of space and won’t slow don’t your Mac.
Creating Aliases
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You can use the menu bar at the top of your Mac’s Desktop or a keyboard shortcut command to create an alias. Click the icon for the item and then select “File” and “Make Alias” from the top menu bar or press the “Command” and “L” keys at the same time. You must be in the Finder to make an alias. You can distinguish the alias icon from the original by the small black arrow in the bottom corner of the icon.
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Deleting Aliases
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To delete an alias, all you need to do is drag it to your Trash. Once you’ve deleted an alias you cannot undelete, but you can create another one. As the alias is merely a gateway to the original document or application, deleting an alias will have no affect on the item in its original location.
Tips
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If you have a specific document or application that you use all of the time, you can create an alias and add it to the toolbar in your Finder. Click the item icon and create an alias through the top menu bar or keyboard shortcut command. Drag the item and hold it over the toolbar in your Finder window. You should see a green “+” sign and slots appear. Release your mouse to add the icon. You can also add the alias icon to the shortcut menu on the left in your Finder window, by dragging and dropping it in the desired location.
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