---
name: "cargo-locate-project"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "rust"
version: "1:1.99.1-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/cargo-locate-project"
---

# cargo-locate-project(1)

Print a JSON representation of a Cargo.toml file’s location

## NAME

cargo-locate-project — Print a JSON representation of a Cargo.toml file’s location

## SYNOPSIS

**cargo locate-project** \[*options*\]

## DESCRIPTION

This command will print a JSON object to stdout with the full path to the manifest. The manifest is found by searching upward for a file named **Cargo.toml** starting from the current working directory.

If the project happens to be a part of a workspace, the manifest of the project, rather than the workspace root, is output. This can be overridden by the **--workspace** flag. The root workspace is found by traversing further upward or by using the field **package.workspace** after locating the manifest of a workspace member.

## OPTIONS

- **--workspace**

  Locate the **Cargo.toml** at the root of the workspace, as opposed to the current workspace member.

### Display Options

- **--message-format** *fmt*

  The representation in which to print the project location. Valid values:

  • **json** (default): JSON object with the path under the key “root”.

  • **plain**: Just the path.

- **-v**, **--verbose**

  Use verbose output. May be specified twice for “very verbose” output which includes extra output such as dependency warnings and build script output. May also be specified with the **term.verbose** *config value* \<https://doc.rust-lang.org/cargo/reference/config.html\>.

- **-q**, **--quiet**

  Do not print cargo log messages. May also be specified with the **term.quiet** *config value* \<https://doc.rust-lang.org/cargo/reference/config.html\>.

- **--color** *when*

  Control when colored output is used. Valid values:

  • **auto** (default): Automatically detect if color support is available on the terminal.

  • **always**: Always display colors.

  • **never**: Never display colors.

  May also be specified with the **term.color** *config value* \<https://doc.rust-lang.org/cargo/reference/config.html\>.

### Manifest Options

- **--manifest-path** *path*

  Path to the **Cargo.toml** file. By default, Cargo searches for the **Cargo.toml** file in the current directory or any parent directory.

### Common Options

**+***toolchain*

If Cargo has been installed with rustup, and the first argument to **cargo** begins with **+**, it will be interpreted as a rustup toolchain name (such as **+stable** or **+nightly**). See the *rustup documentation* \<https://rust-lang.github.io/rustup/overrides.html\> for more information about how toolchain overrides work.

**--config** *KEY=VALUE* or *PATH*

Overrides a Cargo configuration value. The argument should be in TOML syntax of **KEY=VALUE**, or provided as a path to an extra configuration file. This flag may be specified multiple times. See the *command-line overrides section* \<https://doc.rust-lang.org/cargo/reference/config.html#command-line-overrides\> for more information.

- **-C** *PATH*

  Changes the current working directory before executing any specified operations. This affects things like where cargo looks by default for the project manifest (**Cargo.toml**), as well as the directories searched for discovering **.cargo/config.toml**, for example. This option must appear before the command name, for example **cargo -C path/to/my-project build**.

  This option is only available on the *nightly* *channel* \<https://doc.rust-lang.org/book/appendix-07-nightly-rust.html\> and requires the **-Z unstable-options** flag to enable (see *#10098* \<https://github.com/rust-lang/cargo/issues/10098\>).

- **-h**, **--help**

  Prints help information.

- **-Z** *flag*

  Unstable (nightly-only) flags to Cargo. Run **cargo -Z help** for details.

## ENVIRONMENT

See *the reference* \<https://doc.rust-lang.org/cargo/reference/environment-variables.html\> for details on environment variables that Cargo reads.

## EXIT STATUS

• **0**: Cargo succeeded.

• **101**: Cargo failed to complete.

## EXAMPLES

 1\. Display the path to the manifest based on the current directory:

```
cargo locate-project
```

## SEE ALSO

[**cargo**(1)](/cargo/1.md), [**cargo-metadata**(1)](/cargo-metadata/1.md)