---
name: "dpkg-realpath"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "dpkg"
version: "1.23.11-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/dpkg-realpath"
---

# dpkg-realpath(1)

print the resolved pathname with DPKG\_ROOT support

## NAME

dpkg-realpath - print the resolved pathname with DPKG\_ROOT support

## SYNOPSIS

**dpkg-realpath** \[*option*...\] *pathname*

## DESCRIPTION

**dpkg-realpath** is a tool to resolve a pathname, that takes the [**dpkg**(1)](/dpkg/1.md) root directory into account, either implicitly from the **DPKG\_ROOT** environment variable or from the command-line **--root** or **--instdir** options, and returns an absolute *pathname* relative to the root directory. The root directory must not be prefixed to the *pathname* to be resolved.

This is intended to be used by other **dpkg** helpers, or by maintainer scripts instead of using [**realpath**(1)](/realpath/1.md) or [**readlink**(1)](/readlink/1.md) to canonicalize pathnames, as these latter commands do not support canonicalization relative to a different root than */*.

This program was introduced in dpkg 1.20.1.

## OPTIONS

- **-z**, **--zero**

  Use a NUL byte to end output lines instead of a new line character.

  Supported since dpkg 1.20.6.

- **--instdir** *directory*

  - **--root** *directory*

  Set the root directory to *directory*, which is the base directory that pathnames get canonicalized against. Defaults to «**/**» if **DPKG\_ROOT** has not been set.

- **-?**, **--help**

  Show the usage message and exit.

- **--version**

  Show the version and exit.

## ENVIRONMENT

- **DPKG\_ROOT**

  If set and the **--instdir** or **--root** options have not been specified, it will be used as the filesystem root directory.

- **DPKG\_COLORS**

  Sets the color mode. The currently accepted values are: **auto** (default), **always** and **never**.

- **DPKG\_NLS**

  If set, it will be used to decide whether to activate Native Language Support, also known as internationalization (or i18n) support. The accepted values are: **0** and **1** (default).

  Supported since dpkg 1.22.7.

## SEE ALSO

[**realpath**(1)](/realpath/1.md), [**readlink**(1)](/readlink/1.md).