Path

Not the same as a file name

A name identifies a file inside one folder. A path says how to reach it from somewhere — which is why the same name can be four different files and why `cd` fails on a name that plainly exists.

Where it bites

Most “file not found” errors are a path read from the wrong starting point: a relative path is resolved from wherever you are standing, so the same command works in one folder and fails in the next.

In practice

$ pwd

Covered in these lessons

• Where am I: pwd and ls
• Moving around: cd
• Absolute and relative paths
• Making things: mkdir and touch
• Deleting: rm and the missing trash can

Related terms