basename

Additional Notes

basename prints the final component of a path. It is useful in shell scripts when you need just the filename part of a path.

It can also remove a known suffix, such as .txt or .tar.gz.

Syntax

basename path [suffix]
basename [options] path...

Parameters

• path: File or directory path.
• suffix: Optional trailing text to remove from the result.
• options: Multiple-input and suffix controls.

Common Options

• -a: Support multiple path arguments.
• -s SUFFIX: Remove suffix from each name.
• -z: End output with a null byte instead of newline.

Examples

basename /var/log/syslog

Print syslog.

basename /tmp/archive.tar.gz .tar.gz

Print archive.

basename -a /etc/passwd /var/log/syslog

Process multiple paths.

file=$(basename "$path")

Store the filename part in a shell variable.

Practical Notes

• Use quotes around variables because paths can contain spaces.
• Use dirname for the opposite operation: getting the parent directory.
• basename works on strings; the path does not need to exist.