basename(3) BSD Library Functions Manual basename(3)
NAME
basename -- extract the base portion of a pathname
SYNOPSIS
#include <libgen.h>
char *
basename(char *path);
DESCRIPTION
The basename() function returns the last component from the pathname
pointed to by path, deleting any trailing `/' characters. If path con-
sists entirely of `/' characters, a pointer to the string "/" is
returned. If path is a null pointer or the empty string, a pointer to
the string "." is returned.
RETURN VALUES
On successful completion, basename() returns a pointer to the last compo-
nent of path.
If basename() fails, a null pointer is returned and the global variable
errno is set to indicate the error.
ERRORS
The following error codes may be set in errno:
[ENAMETOOLONG] The path component to be returned was larger than
MAXPATHLEN.
WARNINGS
The basename() function returns a pointer to internal static storage
space that will be overwritten by subsequent calls. The function may
modify the string pointed to by path.
LEGACY SYNOPSIS
#include <libgen.h>
char *
basename(const char *path);
In legacy mode, path will not be changed.
SEE ALSO
basename(1), dirname(1), dirname(3), compat(5)
STANDARDS
The basename() function conforms to X/Open Portability Guide Issue 4,
Version 2 (``XPG4.2'').
HISTORY
The basename() function first appeared in OpenBSD 2.2 and FreeBSD 4.2.
AUTHORS
Todd C. Miller <Todd.Miller@courtesan.com>
BSD August 17, 1997 BSD
Mac OS X 10.8 - Generated Sun Aug 26 13:38:46 CDT 2012