Written 1 Sep 2026. This is a how-to, not a product card.

See the folder path

After basename, dirname prints the folder path of a name, without the last name. You don't need extra software for this.

See the last name printed the last name of a path. Tonight you ask for the folder path: dirname. Dirname prints the folders before the last name. Start with one tiny practice file, then dirname ~/dirname-a.txt.

~ is home shorthand. The last name is the file name after the folders. dirname strips the last name and keeps the folder path. That is not basename. Basename prints the last name. That is see the last name. You are still only practicing in home on the computer. It does not need extra system software, htop, Grafana, or a NAS for this one job.

Skip until SSH already works

SSH from the couch should already get you a prompt. SSH means type commands from your laptop, on the house network. If the last name is what you want, that is see the last name. Skip basename as tonight's job. If the full path is what you want, that is see the full path. Skip realpath as tonight's job.

What this is

dirname prints the folder of a path (the folders before the last name). You make one tiny practice file, then type dirname ~/dirname-a.txt. Dirname prints the folder path only, without the last name. Stick with that safe peek: the home folder path (typically /home/YOURLOGIN), without the last name dirname-a.txt, then the prompt back. You don't need extra system software for this.

It is not basename. Basename prints the last name. It is not realpath. Realpath prints the full path. It is not pwd. Pwd prints the folder you sit in.

Practice dirname in home

SSH in. Make sure home is where you sit:

pwd

You want a path that ends in your login name. If not:

cd ~

Make one tiny practice file:

printf 'hello\n' > ~/dirname-a.txt

Print the folder path (tonight's job):

dirname ~/dirname-a.txt

You want the home folder path (typically /home/YOURLOGIN), without the last name dirname-a.txt. Then the prompt back. ~ was home shorthand. Dirname kept the folder path only. That is enough for tonight. Practice only in home.

Debian and Ubuntu usually already have dirname (coreutils). Don't make apt the job.

If dirname is missing, install coreutils:

sudo apt install coreutils

Then stop. That apt line is not the lesson.

When you are done looking, throw the practice name away with careful delete only. That is delete a file carefully. Skip rm -rf.

rm -i ~/dirname-a.txt

Useful extras, still home only

Optional extra: folder path of the root path:

dirname /

That peek prints /. Root has no extra folder above it. Don't make / required. You can stay on dirname ~/dirname-a.txt. Don't dump the whole / tree.

Optional extra: folder path of the folder you sit in, as a dot:

dirname .

That peek prints . (the folder you sit in, as a dot). Don't make pwd the job. Don't make . required.

Skip huge dumps as tonight's job. Skip dirname piped into rm. Dirname prints a folder path. Rm deletes files. Don't mix those jobs. Skip files under /etc, whole /, SSH folders, USB sticks, and /srv. Practice only in home.

Skip screen, tmux, htop, Grafana, and a NAS. Keep SSH on the house network: keep the computer on the house network. Don't forward port 22.

What this is not

This is not basename. Basename prints the last name. Dirname prints the folder path only. That is see the last name. It is not realpath. That is see the full path. It is not pwd. That is see which folder you are in.

What next

Need the shortcut target? See the shortcut target. Need the last name from a path? See the last name. Keep SSH on the house network: keep the computer on the house network. Don't forward port 22.

Skip

Skip if SSH still fails. Finish SSH from the couch first.
Skip huge dumps as tonight's job. Tonight: one tiny practice file.
Skip dirname piped into rm. Dirname prints a folder path. Don't mix delete into this drill.
Skip basename, realpath, and pwd as tonight's job. Those notes already exist.
Skip apt as tonight's job. The coreutils aside is not the lesson.
Skip htop, Grafana, a NAS, files under /etc, and whole /.
Skip rm -rf. Careful delete only: delete a file carefully.
Skip opening SSH to the internet. That is keep the computer on the house network. Don't forward port 22.

Sources

Debian: dirname(1). Ubuntu: dirname(1). Official pages only. For the last name, see see the last name. For the full path, see see the full path. For the folder you sit in, see see which folder you are in. For making a shortcut, see make a shortcut. For file size, date, and permissions, see see file size, date, and permissions. For words you type once, see put a short line into a file. For sending output, see send output into another command. For the login, see SSH from the couch.

Also on this topic

SSH from the couchType commands on the computer from your laptop, on the house network. Password login first. Don't open this to the internet. See the last nameAfter realpath, basename prints the last name so a practice file shows the file name without the folder path. You don't need extra software for this. See the shortcut targetAfter dirname, readlink prints the path a shortcut points at. You don't need extra software for this. See the full pathAfter cmp, realpath prints a full path so a practice name shows where it actually lives. You don't need extra software for this. See which folder you are inAfter SSH works, pwd prints the folder you sit in so later file commands land where you expect. You don't need a file manager for this. Make a shortcutAfter SSH works, make a shortcut with ln -s so a second name points at the same file. You don't need a file manager for this. See file size, date, and permissionsAfter SSH works, see file size, date, and permissions with stat. You don't need extra software for this. See what's in a folderAfter SSH works, list the folder you are sitting in with ls. You don't need a file manager for this. Delete a file carefullyAfter SSH works, delete one file with rm -i. Ask first. Skip rm -rf. You don't need a NAS for this. Turn off password login once the key worksAfter the laptop key login is boring, tell SSH to stop accepting the password. The key is how you get in. A keyboard on the computer is the backup now. Keep the computer on the house networkSSH and Pi-hole belong on the house network. Skip this if you never opened the router settings. Don't forward port 22.