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dirname

Return directory portion of pathname (POSIX)

Syntax:

dirname string

Options:

string

A string representing a valid pathname.

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 usually use the dirname utility inside command substitution marks, $(...), within shell procedures.

Examples:

Command:	Output:
dirname .	.
dirname ..	.
dirname ../.	..
dirname /usr/src/prog.c	/usr/src
dirname /usr/src/	/usr
dirname ...//[fred]	...

Files:

The dirname utility writes the directory name string derived from the command-line parameters to its standard output.

Exit status:

0

Successful completion.

>0

An error occurred.

See also:

basename

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