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CANONICALIZE_FILE_NAME(3) Linux Programmer's Manual CANONICALIZE_FILE_NAME(3)

NAME

canonicalize_file_name - return the canonicalized absolute pathname

SYNOPSIS

#define _GNU_SOURCE /* See feature_test_macros(7) */
#include <stdlib.h>

char *canonicalize_file_name(const char *path);

DESCRIPTION

The canonicalize_file_name() function returns a null-terminated string containing the canonicalized absolute pathname corresponding to path. In the returned string, symbolic links are resolved, as are . and .. pathname components. Consecutive slash (/) characters are replaced by a single slash.

The returned string is dynamically allocated by canonicalize_file_name() and the caller should deallocate it with free(3) when it is no longer required.

The call canonicalize_file_name(path) is equivalent to the call:

realpath(path, NULL);

RETURN VALUE

On success, canonicalize_file_name() returns a null-terminated string. On error (e.g., a pathname component is unreadable or does not exist), canonicalize_file_name() returns NULL and sets errno to indicate the error.

ERRORS

See realpath(3).

ATTRIBUTES

For an explanation of the terms used in this section, see attributes(7).
Interface Attribute Value
canonicalize_file_name () Thread safety MT-Safe

CONFORMING TO

This function is a GNU extension.

SEE ALSO

readlink(2), realpath(3)

COLOPHON

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2017-09-15 GNU