(also known as a full path)
The complete location of a file or directory within a computer filesystem. An absolute path starts at the root directory (or drive letter) and continues up the directory hierarchy until the specific file or directory is reached. This contrasts with a relative path, which does not start at the root directory.
The syntax of absolute paths differs by the operating system. On Microsoft Windows, they begin with a drive letter and use a backslash to separate directory names. Absolute paths on macOS and Linux lack drive letters and use a forward slash as the directory separator.
Examples:
- Windows:
C:UsersMattwwwblogimagesicecream.jpg - macOS:
/Users/Matt/www/blog/images/icecream.jpg - Linux:
/home/Matt/www/blog/images/icecream.jpg
To find the absolute filesystem path of the directory containing a web page, copy the code below into a new text file, save the file as path.php (thus making a simple PHP web page), and move that file to your web server. Then direct your web browser to the URL address of that file (e.g. http://www.example.com/path.php).
<?php echo getcwd(); ?>
See also: Path (computing) at Wikipedia