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REALPATH(3)                             BSD Library Functions Manual                             REALPATH(3)

NAME
     realpath -- returns the canonicalized absolute pathname

SYNOPSIS
     #include <stdlib.h>

     char *
     realpath(const char *restrict file_name, char *restrict resolved_name);

DESCRIPTION
     The realpath() function resolves all symbolic links, extra ``/'' characters, and references to /./ and
     /../ in file_name.  If the resolved_name argument is non-NULL, the resulting absolute pathname is
     copied there (it must refer to a buffer capable of storing at least PATH_MAX characters).

     As a permitted extension to the standard, if resolved_name is NULL, memory is allocated for the result-ing resulting
     ing absolute pathname, and is returned by realpath().  This memory should be freed by a call to free(3)
     when no longer needed.

     The realpath() function will resolve both absolute and relative paths and return the absolute pathname
     corresponding to file_name.  All components of file_name must exist when realpath() is called.

RETURN VALUES
     On success, the realpath() function returns the address of the resulting absolute pathname, which is
     resolved_name if it was non-NULL, or the address of newly allocated memory.  If an error occurs,
     realpath() returns NULL.  If resolved_name was non-NULL, it will contains the pathname which caused the
     problem.

ERRORS
     The function realpath() may fail and set the external variable errno for any of the errors specified
     for the library functions alloca(3), getattrlist(2), getcwd(3), lstat(2), readlink(2), stat(2), and
     strdup(3).

LEGACY SYNOPSIS
     #include <sys/param.h>
     #include <stdlib.h>

     The include file <sys/param.h> is necessary.

LEGACY DESCRIPTION
     In legacy mode, the last component of file_name does not need to exist when realpath() is called.

SEE ALSO
     free(3), getcwd(3), compat(5)

HISTORY
     The realpath() function first appeared in 4.4BSD.

BSD                                             April 5, 2008                                            BSD