# basename(1)

## NAME

         basename, dirname - strip off file prefixes and suffixes

## SYNOPSIS

         basename file [suffix]
         dirname file

## OPTIONS

         (none)

## EXAMPLES

         basename /user/ast/file.c
                             # Strips path to yield file.c

         basename /user/file.c .c
                             # Strips path and .c to yield file

         dirname /user/file.c
                             # Strips basename to yield /user

## DESCRIPTION

         Basename removes the initial directory names (if any) yielding  the  name
         of  the  file itself.  If a second argument is present, it is interpreted
         as a suffix and is also stripped, if present.

         Dirname removes the final component of a path, yielding the  directory  a
         file is in.

         These programs are primarily used in shell scripts.