Should a directory path variable end with a trailing slash?

Question

Dear All,

What is the difference between "c:\test" and "c:\test\"?

1. Should the directory path variable be end with a trailing slash?

2. When do we need to add the trailing slash?

Thanks and Best regards,

E-John

Answer 1

You can see : File path formats on Windows systems

Answer 2

Hi E-John,

Thank you for posting here.

>>What is the difference between "c:\test" and "c:\test\"?

If it is used for accessing the path, there is no difference between them.

>> Should the directory path variable be end with a trailing slash?

As usual, we don't need to add it.

>>When do we need to add the trailing slash?

If we want to use it to access the file in that folder, you will use it. Please refer to the following code.

            string path1 = @"c:\test";
            string path2 = @"c:\test\";
            Console.WriteLine(path1);
            Console.WriteLine(path2);
            string newpath = Path.Combine(path1, "new.txt"); // first way 
            Console.WriteLine(newpath);
            string newpath1 = path2 + "new.txt";          // second way
            Console.WriteLine(newpath1);

Result:

Best Regards,

Jack

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Answer 3

Hi

Is your problem solved? If so, please post "Mark as answer" to the appropriate answer. So that it will help other members to find the solution quickly if they face the similar issue.

Best Regards,

Jack

---

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Answer 4

Hi Jack,

Thanks for your explanations.

Path.GetDirectoryName(path) got different result if path with/without trailing slash

if path = "D:\Test\Dir1\" ---> got directory name = "D:\Test\Dir1\"

---> If we regards path with a trailing slash is a directory, then it is expectation.

if path = "D:\Test\Dir1" ---> got directory name = "D:\Test"

---> Here the "D:\Test\Dir1" is not end with a slash, but "D:\Test\" which ends with slash is a directory.

Method Path.GetDirectoryName(path) got directory is "D:\Test\"

It is better to add trailing slash to represent it is a directory.

D:.
│  TestFile1.txt
│
└─Dir1
        TestDir1File1.txt

namespace DirsAndFiles
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            string path = @"D:\Test\Dir1\";
            string folder = Path.GetDirectoryName(path);
            var directory = new DirectoryInfo(folder);

            var latestFile = (from f in directory.GetFiles("*.txt")
                              orderby f.LastWriteTime descending
                              select f).First();
            Console.WriteLine("Dirctory with slash");
            Console.WriteLine(path);
            Console.WriteLine(folder);
            Console.WriteLine(directory);
            Console.WriteLine(latestFile.Name);

            path = @"D:\Test\Dir1";
            folder = Path.GetDirectoryName(path);
            directory = new DirectoryInfo(folder);

            latestFile = (from f in directory.GetFiles("*.txt")
                              orderby f.LastWriteTime descending
                              select f).First();
            Console.WriteLine(new string('=', 40));
            Console.WriteLine("Dirctory without slash");
            Console.WriteLine(path);
            Console.WriteLine(folder);
            Console.WriteLine(directory);
            Console.WriteLine(latestFile.Name);

            Console.ReadKey();
        }
    }
}

Answer 5

Hi E-John,

Thanks for the feedback.

I want to know if you have any other question about it. If so, please feel free to let us know. If not, you could mark the useful reply as an answer.

Best Regards,

Jack

---

MSDN Community Support
Please remember to click "Mark as Answer" the responses that resolved your issue, and to click "Unmark as Answer" if not. This can be beneficial to other community members reading this thread. If you have any compliments or complaints to MSDN Support, feel free to contact [e-mail].