std::filesystem::canonical, std::filesystem::weakly_canonical

Since C++17

Header: <filesystem>

1,2) Converts path p to a canonical absolute path, i.e. an absolute path that has no dot, dot-dot elements or symbolic links in its generic format representation. If p is not an absolute path, the function behaves as if it is first made absolute by std::filesystem::absolute(p). The path p must exist.

# Declarations

path canonical( const std::filesystem::path& p );

(since C++17)

path canonical( const std::filesystem::path& p,
std::error_code& ec );

(since C++17)

path weakly_canonical( const std::filesystem::path& p );

(since C++17)

path weakly_canonical( const std::filesystem::path& p,
std::error_code& ec );

(since C++17)

# Parameters

# Notes

The function canonical() is modeled after the POSIX realpath.

The function weakly_canonical() was introduced to simplify operational semantics of relative().

# Example

#include <filesystem>
#include <iostream>
 
int main()
{
    /* set up sandbox directories:
     a
     └── b
         ├── c1
         │   └── d <== current path
         └── c2
             └── e
    */
    auto old = std::filesystem::current_path();
    auto tmp = std::filesystem::temp_directory_path();
    std::filesystem::current_path(tmp);
    auto d1 = tmp / "a/b/c1/d";
    auto d2 = tmp / "a/b/c2/e";
    std::filesystem::create_directories(d1);
    std::filesystem::create_directories(d2);
    std::filesystem::current_path(d1);
 
    auto p1 = std::filesystem::path("../../c2/./e");
    auto p2 = std::filesystem::path("../no-such-file");
    std::cout << "Current path is "
              << std::filesystem::current_path() << '\n'
              << "Canonical path for " << p1 << " is "
              << std::filesystem::canonical(p1) << '\n'
              << "Weakly canonical path for " << p2 << " is "
              << std::filesystem::weakly_canonical(p2) << '\n';
    try
    {
        [[maybe_unused]] auto x_x = std::filesystem::canonical(p2);
        // NOT REACHED
    }
    catch (const std::exception& ex)
    {
        std::cout << "Canonical path for " << p2 << " threw exception:\n"
                  << ex.what() << '\n';
    }
 
    // cleanup
    std::filesystem::current_path(old);
    const auto count = std::filesystem::remove_all(tmp / "a");
    std::cout << "Deleted " << count << " files or directories.\n";
}

# Defect reports

DRApplied toBehavior as publishedCorrect behavior
LWG 2956C++17canonical has a spurious base parameterremoved

# See also