---
name: "SDL_GetBasePath"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "libsdl3-doc"
version: "3.2.10+ds-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/SDL_GetBasePath"
---

# SDL\_GetBasePath(3)

Get the directory where the application was run from.

## NAME

SDL\_GetBasePath - Get the directory where the application was run from.

## HEADER FILE

Defined in SDL3/SDL\_filesystem.h

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include "SDL3/SDL.h"
```

**const char \* SDL\_GetBasePath(void);**

## DESCRIPTION

SDL caches the result of this call internally, but the first call to this function is not necessarily fast, so plan accordingly. **macOS and iOS Specific Functionality** : If the application is in a ".app" bundle, this function returns the Resource directory (e.g. MyApp.app/Contents/Resources/). This behaviour can be overridden by adding a property to the Info.plist file. Adding a string key with the name

**SDL\_FILESYSTEM\_BASE\_DIR\_TYPE**\
  with a supported value will change the behaviour.

Supported values for the

**SDL\_FILESYSTEM\_BASE\_DIR\_TYPE**\
  property (Given an application in /Applications/SDLApp/MyApp.app):

\- **resource** : bundle resource directory (the default). For example: **/Applications/SDLApp/MyApp.app/Contents/Resources** - **bundle** : the Bundle directory. For example: **/Applications/SDLApp/MyApp.app/** - **parent** : the containing directory of the bundle. For example: **/Applications/SDLApp/** **Nintendo 3DS Specific Functionality** : This function returns "romfs" directory of the application as it is uncommon to store resources outside the executable. As such it is not a writable directory.

The returned path is guaranteed to end with a path separator ('\\' on Windows, '/' on most other platforms).

## RETURN VALUE

Returns an absolute path in UTF-8 encoding to the application data directory. NULL will be returned on error or when the platform doesn't implement this functionality, call

**SDL\_GetError** () for more information.

## AVAILABILITY

This function is available since SDL 3.2.0.

## SEE ALSO

**•**(3), [**SDL\_GetPrefPath**(3)](/SDL_GetPrefPath/3.md)