basename - Return the nondirectory components of a path name

Format

basename name [suffix]

Description

basename strips off the leading part of a path name, leaving only the final component of the name, which is assumed to be the file name. To accomplish this, basename first checks to see if name consists of nothing but slash (/) characters. If so, basename replaces name with a single slash and the process is complete. If not, basename removes trailing slashes. If slashes still remain, basename strips off all leading characters up to and including the final slash. Finally, if you specify suffix and the remaining portion of name contains a suffix that matches suffix, basename removes that suffix.

Examples

The command: 
basename src/dos/printf.c
produces: 
printf.c

Localization

basename uses the following localization environment variables:
  • LANG
  • LC_ALL
  • LC_CTYPE
  • LC_MESSAGES
  • NLSPATH

Exit values

0
Successful completion.
1
Failure due to any of the following reasons:
  • Unknown command-line option.
  • Incorrect number of arguments.

Portability

POSIX.2, X/Open Portability Guide, UNIX systems.

Related information

dirname