---
name: "basename"
section: "3"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/basename/3"
---

# basename(3)

extract the base portion of a pathname

## NAME

**basename** – extract the base portion of a pathname

## SYNOPSIS

**#include \<libgen.h\>**

*char* *\**\

**basename**(*char \*path*);

## DESCRIPTION

The **basename**() function returns the last component from the pathname pointed to by *path*, deleting any trailing ‘/’ characters.

## IMPLEMENTATION NOTES

This implementation of **basename**() uses the buffer provided by the caller to store the resulting pathname component. Other vendor implementations may return a pointer to internal storage space instead. The advantage of the former approach is that it ensures thread-safety, while also placing no upper limit on the supported length of the pathname.

## RETURN VALUES

If *path* consists entirely of ‘/’ characters, a pointer to the string "/" is returned. If *path* is a null pointer or the empty string, a pointer to the string "." is returned. Otherwise, it returns a pointer to the last component of *path*.

## SEE ALSO

[basename(1)](/basename/1.md), [dirname(1)](/dirname/1.md), [dirname(3)](/dirname/3.md)

## STANDARDS

The **basename**() function conforms to X/Open Portability Guide Issue 4, Version 2 (“XPG4.2”).

## HISTORY

The **basename**() function first appeared in OpenBSD 2.2 and FreeBSD 4.2.

In FreeBSD 12.0, this function was reimplemented to store its result in the provided input buffer. There is no longer any need to use the **basename\_r**() function.

## AUTHORS

Nuxi, the Netherlands