Glossary
.lnk file
A Windows shortcut file (Shell Link) that points to a target program, document or folder and stores metadata such as the target path, arguments and timestamps.
A .lnk file is a Windows shortcut: a small binary record in the Shell Link
(MS-SHLLINK) format that tells Explorer what to open when you double-click it.
Rather than holding the target's data, it stores a pointer to it plus rich
metadata — the resolved target path, command-line arguments, working directory,
icon location and creation/access/write timestamps. Because that metadata
survives even when the target moves, .lnk files are valuable evidence in
digital forensics. You can open one and read every field with the parser on this site.