dirname

Return the directory portion of a pathname (POSIX)

Syntax:

dirname string

Runs on:

QNX Neutrino, Linux, Microsoft Windows

Options:

None.

Description:

The dirname utility returns a portion of the string operand to standard output. The string operand represents a valid pathname whose format is:

directory_pathname/base_filename

The dirname utility writes the directory_pathname component to standard output.

If string is //, then // is returned. Any other string consisting entirely of slash characters causes a single slash to be returned.

You'll use the dirname utility most often within shell scripts, where it's normally invoked inside back-tick (`...`), or contained in $(...).

Examples:

Exit status:

0

Successful completion.

>0

An error occurred.

See also:

basename