The Wolfram Language provides a convenient collection of platform-independent functions for manipulating names of files and directories. These functions can also be used to assemble and disassemble file-name-like constructs such as URLs.

FileNameSplit — split a file name into directory and name parts

FileNameJoin — assemble a file name from a list of components

FileNameTake , FileNameDrop — take, drop elements from a file name

FileBaseName   ▪ FileExtension   ▪ FileNameDepth   ▪ NotebookFileName

ExpandFileName — textually expand to absolute file name form

AbsoluteFileName — determine the absolute name for a file in your filesystem

ContextToFileName — name of file conventionally associated with a context

Directories »

DirectoryQ — test whether a name corresponds to an existing directory

NotebookDirectory   ▪ ParentDirectory   ▪ DirectoryName   ▪ ...

$Path   ▪ $RootDirectory   ▪ $HomeDirectory   ▪ $UserBaseDirectory   ▪ ...

FileNames — list names of files or directories on your computer system

FileExistsQ — test whether a file exists on your computer system

FindFile — find a file on $Path , etc.

FileNameSetter — interactively browse for a file

File — symbolic representation of a file location

URLs »

URLEncode   ▪ URLDecode   ▪ URLBuild   ▪ URLParse   ▪ ...

Related Tech Notes

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• Naming and Finding Files
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• External Programs
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• Files and Streams
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• Wolfram System File Organization

Related Guides

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• Systems-Related String Operations
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• File Operations
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• String Manipulation
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• URL Manipulation