How Do You Spell PATHNAME?

Pronunciation: [pˈaθne͡ɪm] (IPA)

The word "pathname" refers to the complete route that a file or directory must take to be located in a computer system. Its spelling may seem somewhat unusual, but it can be broken down into its phonetic components as /pæθneɪm/. The first syllable is pronounced "path" as in "pathway", while the second syllable should be pronounced like "name". Together, they form a word that accurately describes the location of a file or directory within a computer's file system.

Meaning and Definition
Common Misspellings
Etymology
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PATHNAME Meaning and Definition

  1. A pathname is a string of characters that identifies the location of a file or directory in a computer's file system. It is used in operating systems to specify the exact location of a particular file or directory within the directory hierarchy.

    A pathname typically consists of multiple components separated by directory separators, which could be slashes (/) in most Unix-based systems or backslashes (\) in Windows systems. Each component represents a directory or subdirectory in the file system.

    The specific format of a pathname depends on the operating system and file system being used. In Unix-based systems, a pathname generally starts with a forward slash (/), representing the root directory, and subsequent components represent directories and subdirectories leading to the desired file or directory. In Windows systems, a pathname typically starts with a drive letter followed by a colon (e.g., C:) and then the directory components separated by backslashes.

    Pathnames may also include special characters or constructs for navigating through the file system, such as ".." to refer to the parent directory and "." to refer to the current directory.

    Pathnames are crucial for locating files and directories within a file system and are used in various contexts, including opening, moving, and deleting files, as well as specifying file paths in command lines or programming scripts.

Common Misspellings for PATHNAME

Etymology of PATHNAME

The word "pathname" originated from the combination of the words "path" and "name".

"Path" primarily derives from the Old English word "pað" meaning "a track that is beaten or trodden", which can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "*pathaz". It is related to the verb "to tread" and has connections with the Latin word "pateo" meaning "to be open".

"Name" comes from the Old English word "nama", which can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "*namô" and the Proto-Indo-European root "*h₁nómn̥". It is related to the Sanskrit word "nā́ma" meaning "name" and the Greek word "ónoma" with the same meaning.