What is the advantage of using aliases on Mac?

Same deal as shortcuts on a PC. Sometimes it’s just convenient. For instance, if you wanted a link to a specific document folder from your desktop.

With the Dock and Stacks, aliases really don’t have much use anymore. If you manage a lot of stuff in your folders instead of using Spotlight, it might be helpful.

One reason that I use aliases is so that I can maintain a folder of pending documents. I keep the actual documents filed as normal, and an alias in the pending folder.

I am constantly adding and removing fonts in my Fonts folder… Since that particular folder is buried in the Library I created an alias to access it on my desktop.

you can also make an alias of a connected server. It will reconnect you without going through the normal steps.

I also make alias of my photoshop plugin folder for other compatible apps so I don’t need two sets (or more) of the same files.

I usually symlink files at the command line as I find that with certain things like cross platform backups, that symlinks work a little better, as my linux boxes can’t follow aliases, but can follow symlinks.

Basically it lets you place one file different places on your computer.

I change my dock semi-often and use an alias to get the “Show Package Contents” rather than navigating to the hidden folder contents. Other than that i cant think of a reason i used an alias in years

I keep aliases instead of real folders on my desktop in case I delete them by mistake. Deleting an alias causes no problems because the original files are elsewhere.
It can also be nifty to make a stack of aliases to different folders you access regularly.

Also, alies’ link to the file, where ever you move that file to.

@justin5824 that is the case, so long as you’re still on a mac.