A CDE Definition

(1) In Windows 2000, a file that points to another file or directory. It is used to allow a variety of sources to point to a common destination. The Unix counterpart is the "symbolic link." When URLs are redirected, it is called "URL mapping." See redirection.

(2) A directory defined by name only. All references to the virtual directory are redirected to the real directory (see definition #1).

Diverting data from their normal destination to another; for example, to a disk file instead of the printer, or to a server's disk instead of the local disk. See virtual directory, symbolic link, shortcut, hijacking and redirector.