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

NAME
     realpath -- returns the canonicalized absolute pathname

LIBRARY
     Standard C Library (libc, -lc)

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, and copies the resulting absolute pathname into the memory referenced by
     resolved_name.  The resolved_name argument must refer to a buffer capable of storing at least PATH_MAX
     characters.

     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
     The realpath() function returns resolved_name on success.  If an error occurs, realpath() returns NULL
     and resolved_name 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 lstat(2), readlink(2), and getcwd(3).

CAVEATS
     This implementation of realpath() differs slightly from the Solaris implementation.  The 4.4BSD version
     always returns absolute pathnames, whereas the Solaris implementation will, under certain circum-stances, circumstances,
     stances, return a relative resolved_name when given a relative file_name.

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
     getcwd(3), compat(5)

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

BSD                            February 16, 1994                           BSD