basename Command in Linux with examples

Last Updated : 01 Sep, 2024

The 'basename' command in Linux is a fundamental utility used in file manipulation and script writing. It simplifies file paths by stripping directory information and optional suffixes from file names. Here a detailed overview of the 'basename' command, including its syntax, options, and practical usage examples.

What is the 'basename' Command?

'basename' is used to extract the base file name from a given path by removing the path up to and including the last slash ('/'). This command is particularly useful in scripting and programming where file names need to be handled separately from their directory paths.

Syntax of 'basename' command

$basename NAME [SUFFIX]         or $basename OPTION NAME

where,

NAME: refers to the file name or file full pathname and
OPTION: refers to the options compatible with the

'basename' command and in case, if you want to strip off the suffix of a file you can give the filename followed by the SUFFIX name you want to get rid off.

Example :

/* basename removes directory path and     returns the file name, kt */ $basename /usr/local/bin/kt kt

In the first case, the 'basename' command removes the directories name from the full path name given of file 'kt' and in the second case 'basename' removes the 'suffix.html' from 'kt.html'.

Options for basename command :

'-a, - -multiple' option : This option lets you support multiple arguments and treat each as a NAME i.e you can give multiple file names or full path names with the use of -a option.
```
/* -a is used for multiple inputs */ $basename -a /usr/local/bin/kt /usr/local/bin/kt.html kt kt.html 
```

'-s, - -suffix = SUFFIX' option : This option removes a trailing suffix SUFFIX,such as a file extension.

 /*.html suffix is removed from kt.html     when followed by -s option */ $basename -s .html kt.html kt

'-z' option : This separates the output with NULL rather than a newline.

/* The outputs of the two arguments passed    are not separated by a newline*/ $basename -az /usr/local/bin/kt kt.html ktkt.html

'- -help' option : This displays the help information and exit.
'- -version' option : This displays the version information and exit.

Application of basename command :

There are many utilities available which are only useful when it comes to shell scripts and doesn't have any practical application when used by itself and 'basename' comes under this category.

Example of a shell script which converts gif image files into png image files with the help of basename command:

/*shell script to convert the gif image file format into png image file format */  #!/bin/sh for file in *.gif;do     #exit if there are no files     if [! -f $file];then         exit     fi     b='basename $file .gif'     echo NOW $b.gif is $b.png     giftopnm $b.gif | pnmtopng >$b.png done

In the above shell script 'basename' command is used to extract the file names with extension '.gif' without the extension so that they can be converted into '.png' files.