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dirname

Return the directory portion of a pathname (POSIX)

Syntax:

dirname string

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:

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

Exit status:

0
Successful completion.
>0
An error occurred.

See also:

basename


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