Finder shows files in ~/Library/Containers that do not exist in the terminal

[Ursadorable]

I noticed an oddity today that when looking at ~/Library/Containers in Finder, that it lists a bunch of files that don't show up in the terminal.

In fact, it shows multiple directories of the same name.

When performing Get Info on one of the folders, it confirms that the directories are located in /Users/<user>/Library/Containers.. Yet terminal shows the don't actually exist in that directory. In fact most of the directories listed, don't appear in the directory at all when viewed from the command line.

What's causing MacOS to show these folders only in Finder, and not in the terminal?

Thank you!

 

[adrianlondon]

Finder doesn't really know how to display Containers properly.

What you see in Terminal is correct. You can verify this in Finder by clicking the "duplicates" and doing a "Get Info" on them. They're all different, and the names showing in the Info pop-up will match what you see when doing a directory listing in the Terminal.

 

[gilby101]

Finder shows some things in a simplified way, hiding the true file system. Terminal more closely reflects the true state of the file system.