Linux basename command
Updated: 05/04/2019 by Computer Hope
On Unix-like operating systems, the basename command strips directory information and suffixes from file names.
This document covers the GNU/Linux version of basename.
basename prints file name NAME with any leading directory components removed. It can optionally also remove any trailing suffix.
Syntax
basename NAME [SUFFIX]
basename OPTION... NAME...
Options
| -a, –multiple | support multiple arguments and treat each as a NAME. |
| -s, –suffix=SUFFIX | remove a trailing suffix SUFFIX, such as a file extension. |
| -z, –zero | separate output with NUL rather than a newline. |
| –help | display help information and exit. |
| –version | output version information and exit. |
Examples
basename /usr/bin/sort
Outputs the string “sort“.
basename include/stdio.h .h
Outputs the string “stdio“.
basename -s .h include/stdio.h
Outputs the string “stdio“.
basename -a any/str1 any/str2
Outputs the string “str1” followed by the string “str2“.
Related commands
expr — Evaluate arguments as an expression.