Windows
Linux
PowerShell Equivalents
File System
Windows PowerShell Resolve-Path equivalent in Linux
Converts a relative path or symbolic link into its normalized absolute path.
Windows
→
PowerShell Resolve-Path
Linux equivalents
realpath path/to/file
realpath path/to/file
realpath path/to/file
Overview
What this command does
Converts a relative path or symbolic link into its normalized absolute path.
Migration tip:
realpath is useful in scripts when you need one canonical path. readlink -f provides similar behavior on GNU systems.Practical tasks
Common use cases
Resolve an absolute path
Converts a relative path or symbolic link into its normalized absolute path.
realpath ./notes.txt
Resolve a relative path
realpath ../Downloads
Normalize parent-directory references
readlink -f symlink
Resolve a symbolic link
Ready to run
Copyable Linux commands
Review paths, device names, package names and permissions before running any command.
realpath ./notes.txt
realpath ../Downloads
readlink -f symlink
Walkthrough
Examples with explanations
realpath ./notes.txt # print the absolute normalized path
realpath ../Downloads # resolve a path containing ..
readlink -f symlink # follow a symbolic link to its final targetReference
Common options and variations
| Command or option | Use |
|---|---|
realpath ./notes.txt | Resolve a relative path |
realpath ../Downloads | Normalize parent-directory references |
readlink -f symlink | Resolve a symbolic link |
Distro differences
Debian/Ubuntu vs Fedora vs Arch
This command is the same on Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch Linux when the relevant tool is installed.
| Distribution | Package manager / base | Equivalent command | Difference to notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian/Ubuntu | same command | realpath path/to/file |
Same command on this distribution. |
| Fedora | same command | realpath path/to/file |
Same command on this distribution. |
| Arch | same command | realpath path/to/file |
Same command on this distribution. |
Important
What to watch out for
realpath normally fails when required path components do not exist. Use realpath -m on GNU systems to normalize missing paths.
Keep learning