dirname

Syntax

#include <unistd.h>

char * dirname (const char *fname);

Description

This function returns the directory part of the argument fname copied to a buffer allocated by calling malloc. The directory part is everything up to but not including the rightmost slash (either forward- or backslash) in fname. If fname includes a drive letter but no slashes, the function will return x:. where x is the drive letter. If fname includes neither the drive letter nor any slashes, "." will be returned. Trailing slashes are removed from the result, unless it is a root directory, with or without a drive letter.

Return value

The directory part in malloc'ed storage, or a NULL pointer of either there's not enough free memory, or fname is a NULL pointer.

Portability

not ANSI, not POSIX

Example

 printf ("The parent of current directory is %s\n", 
         dirname (getcwd (0, PATH_MAX)));

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