---
name: "Tcl_Chdir"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "tcl"
version: "8.6.16-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/Tcl_Chdir"
---

# Tcl\_Chdir(3)

manipulate the current working directory

```

```

## NAME

Tcl\_GetCwd, Tcl\_Chdir - manipulate the current working directory

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <tcl.h>

char *
Tcl_GetCwd(interp, bufferPtr)

int
Tcl_Chdir(dirName)
```

## ARGUMENTS

- Tcl\_Interp *\*interp* (in)

  Interpreter in which to report an error, if any.

- Tcl\_DString *\*bufferPtr* (in/out)

  This dynamic string is used to store the current working directory. At the time of the call it should be uninitialized or free.  The caller must eventually call **Tcl\_DStringFree** to free up anything stored here.

- const char *\*dirName* (in)

  File path in UTF-8 format.

  ```

  ```

## DESCRIPTION

These procedures may be used to manipulate the current working directory for the application.  They provide C-level access to the same functionality as the Tcl **pwd** command.

**Tcl\_GetCwd** returns a pointer to a string specifying the current directory, or NULL if the current directory could not be determined. If NULL is returned, an error message is left in the *interp*'s result. Storage for the result string is allocated in bufferPtr; the caller must call **Tcl\_DStringFree()** when the result is no longer needed. The format of the path is UTF-8.

**Tcl\_Chdir** changes the applications current working directory to the value specified in *dirName*.  The format of the passed in string must be UTF-8.  The function returns -1 on error or 0 on success.

## KEYWORDS

pwd