What does "Linking" an object mean in PowerPoint?

Linking an object in PowerPoint refers to the process of connecting it to another file or resource, such as a document, spreadsheet, or an external webpage. When you link an object, you create a dynamic connection that allows the object to update automatically if the source file changes. For example, if you link an Excel chart in your PowerPoint presentation, any updates made to the chart in Excel will be reflected in your PowerPoint slide, ensuring that your presentation always displays the most current information.

This feature is particularly useful when presenting data that frequently changes, as it saves time and ensures consistency between different files. Linking also helps in keeping the PowerPoint file size smaller since the linked content is not embedded directly into the presentation. Instead, it maintains a reference to the external source, making managing updates more efficient.

In contrast, grouping multiple objects together involves combining them as a single unit for easier manipulation, duplicating an object means creating an identical copy for use in the presentation, and removing an object deletes it from the slide entirely. These actions do not involve creating a connection to another resource, which is the key aspect of linking.