What is a key difference between 'Linking' and 'Importing' in Revit?

In Revit, a significant distinction between linking and importing files lies in how linked files behave in relation to updates. When a file is linked, it establishes a live connection with the original source file, allowing any changes made to the source to be reflected in the Revit project. This dynamic relationship ensures that the linked elements remain current and automatically update without the user needing to re-import anything.

On the other hand, imported files do not maintain a connection with their source once they are brought into the Revit environment. As a result, any modifications made to the original file will not affect the imported file, necessitating a re-import to reflect those changes in the Revit project.

This understanding of linking fosters better collaboration on projects where multiple users may be working on portions of the design, allowing for a more cohesive approach to managing changes and updates across different disciplines or files.