What is a Group Link?

A "group link" is an ILIAS object that can be used to create "links" within ILIAS. You probably know this function of the "link" from using your own laptop or desktop PC (see excursus).

Excursus: How the "link" works on a laptop or desktop PC
You want to place a program or folder in a specific location on your hard disk (internal memory of your device). For example, programs or apps are often stored on your hard disk under "C:Software". However, this location is deep within the system and can only be reached by several mouse clicks. This is where many people help themselves with a "link" for the object. You then place the link on your desktop view. In this way, you can quickly access what you want with just one mouse click, even though the desired object/software application is not directly saved on the desktop.

What can the Group Link be used for?

A group link can be used to integrate an existing group, e.g. "Working group: XY" at several places on the ILIAS platform.
This has the advantage that you only have to administrate and maintain the content in the group at one place, and do not have to do this several times in the copies existing from the group. Furthermore, the group members do not have to be members of many different ILIAS groups but can draw on existing groups.

Example: Integrating learning groups into current ILIAS courses

In some disciplines, students work together in fixed working or learning groups for a longer period of time. For this purpose, these departments (e.g. medicine) use the area for students of all semesters on the central learning platform. By locating the groups in the area for students of all semesters, these groups are able to access a common virtual workspace even over several semesters.
In the current semester, teachers might want to use these working groups as they are already well-integrated into the team. In order to avoid duplication, the teacher simply creates group links in his or her course that is located in the current semester, which refer to those groups that have already existed for some time in the area for students of all semesters. Hence students do not have to work with two "same" working groups. Furthermore, unnecessary misunderstandings and duplications are avoided as everyone can always work together in the same ILIAS group.