Pathname

What Does Pathname Mean?

The pathname is a specific label for a file’s directory location while within an operating system. In traditional DOS command line systems, the user would type the entire file pathname into the system to be directed to that file where it is located inside of the operating system.

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Techopedia Explains Pathname

Innovative graphical user interfaces have abstracted the ways that file pathnames are used. In modern Windows environments, the end user does not see the pathname unless they open up a DOS command line shell. However pathnames are still commonly visible in interfaces like Linux, and even where they are not commonly visible, they are still useful as a means of locating individual files within directories.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…