parent folder from path string in javascript

Question

I have a string that is a path of the folder

let mypath = "folder/subfolder/file"

in general, that can be any length. How can I get the path of the parent (in that case: let parentname = "folder/subfolder") the quickest. I could do:

let path_segs = mypath.split("/");
let parentname = "";
for (let i = 0; i < path_segs.length - 2; i++){
    parentname += path_segs[i] + "/";
}
parentname.slice(0, -1);
return parentname;

but that seems to be long and inefficient. Is there any better way?

If your string never ends with a /: mypath.slice(0, mypath.lastIndexOf('/')). A shorter version of your array solution would be: let path_segs = mypath.split("/"); path_segs.pop(); let parentname = path_segs.join('/'); (i.e. simply remove the last element and join the parts again). — Felix Kling
– Felix Kling, Commented Nov 3, 2020 at 14:10
Looks like you're already aware of the fact that .slice() "understands" a negative end. So why the loop? path_segs.slice(0, -1).join("/") — Andreas
– Andreas, Commented Nov 3, 2020 at 14:10
@Andreas good point, I haven't thought about it. I've always only used it for removing last element without really thinking how it works. Shame on me. Thank you! — Malvinka
– Malvinka, Commented Nov 3, 2020 at 14:16
@FelixKling thank you! The lastIndexOf is the method I was thinking about but couldn't find it. — Malvinka
– Malvinka, Commented Nov 3, 2020 at 14:16

acincognito · Accepted Answer · 2020-11-03 14:11:57Z

2

Try this:

let mypath = "folder/subfolder/file";
const a = mypath.substring(0, mypath.lastIndexOf('/'));
console.log(a);

answered Nov 3, 2020 at 14:11

acincognito

1,7531 gold badge16 silver badges25 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

Raphael Over a year ago

It may be worth noting that you'll receive unexpected behavior if mypath is a folder path and ends with a /.

Ariel · Accepted Answer · 2020-11-03 14:21:13Z

1

You can use path.parse. (Node.js only)

const path = require("path");
const somePath = "/some/weird/path";
const parsedPath = path.parse(somePath);
console.log(parsedPath.dir); // it will print /some/weird

parsedPath.dir is probably what you are looking for, bonus, it will work with paths in both windows and linux.

answered Nov 3, 2020 at 14:21

Ariel

1,4368 silver badges18 bronze badges

1 Comment

Malvinka Over a year ago

thanks, but I don't use Node, I'm working on strings in the UI.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

parent folder from path string in javascript

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

1 Comment

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

1 Comment

Related