Most file references in Apple's frameworks track by both the target's path and inode, with the inode considered "more canonical". This is used in NSDocument app

Most file references in Apple's frameworks track by both the target's path and inode, with the inode considered "more canonical". This is used in NSDocument apps where when you move a file with it still open, the app can tell where it went and continue working at the new path. Finder aliases (different from symlinks) also do this.