dirname – strip filename from path
dirname strips the last component (filename) from a path, returning the directory.
Synopsis
dirname PATH
Examples
Get directory from path
$ dirname /var/log/syslog
/var/log
$ dirname /home/greys/documents/report.pdf
/home/greys/documents
Filename only (returns .)
$ dirname report.pdf
.
Multiple paths
$ dirname /path/to/file1 /path/to/file2
/path/to
/path/to
In Scripts
Get script directory
#!/bin/bash
SCRIPT_DIR=$(dirname "$0")
cd "$SCRIPT_DIR"
Absolute script directory
#!/bin/bash
SCRIPT_DIR=$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd)
Create file in same directory
input="/data/files/input.csv"
output="$(dirname "$input")/output.csv"
# output = /data/files/output.csv
Shell Alternative
Using parameter expansion:
path="/var/log/syslog"
${path%/*} # Result: /var/log
Combined with basename
path="/var/log/syslog"
dir=$(dirname "$path") # /var/log
file=$(basename "$path") # syslog
echo "File: $file in directory: $dir"
Tips
- Doesn’t resolve symlinks: Use
realpathfor that - Doesn’t check existence: Works on any string
- Returns . for plain filenames
