path

The path module is another core Node.js tool that pairs perfectly with fs. It helps you work with file and directory paths in a cross-platform safe way.

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📂 1. Importing path

const path = require("path");

Why use it?

• Windows uses \ (backslashes).

• Linux/macOS use / (forward slashes).

• path makes sure your code works everywhere.

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🛠️ 2. Common Methods

path.join()

• Joins path segments together using the correct separator.

const filePath = path.join(__dirname, "folder", "file.txt");
console.log(filePath);
// /Users/tyson/project/folder/file.txt (mac/Linux)
// C:\Users\tyson\project\folder\file.txt (Windows)

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path.resolve()

• Resolves a sequence of paths into an absolute path.

• Similar to cd in a terminal.

const absPath = path.resolve("folder", "file.txt");
console.log(absPath);
// /Users/tyson/currentDir/folder/file.txt

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path.basename()

• Returns the last portion (file name).

console.log(path.basename("/users/tyson/project/file.txt"));
// file.txt

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path.dirname()

• Returns the directory part.

console.log(path.dirname("/users/tyson/project/file.txt"));
// /users/tyson/project

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path.extname()

• Returns the extension.

console.log(path.extname("file.txt"));  // .txt
console.log(path.extname("archive.tar.gz")); // .gz

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path.parse() & path.format()

• Breaks a path into parts, or builds it back.

const parsed = path.parse("/users/tyson/project/file.txt");
console.log(parsed);
/*
{
  root: '/',
  dir: '/users/tyson/project',
  base: 'file.txt',
  ext: '.txt',
  name: 'file'
}
*/
 
// Rebuild path
const formatted = path.format(parsed);
console.log(formatted); // /users/tyson/project/file.txt

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path.normalize()

• Fixes weird/messy paths.

console.log(path.normalize("/users/tyson//project/../file.txt"));
// /users/tyson/file.txt

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✅ In Short

• join() → safely glue segments.

• resolve() → get absolute path.

• basename() / dirname() / extname() → dissect path.

• parse() / format() → full breakdown/rebuild.

• normalize() → clean up messy paths.

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