How To Find The Path Of A File In Linux

Knowing the path of a file in Linux helps you navigate, copy, or reference it with precision. If you have ever wondered how to find the path of a file in linux, you are in the right place. This guide will show you multiple ways to locate the exact location of any file on your system.

Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned user, understanding file paths is essential for efficient command-line work. Let’s jump right into the most common methods.

The quickest way to get the full path of a file is using the realpath command. It resolves symlinks and gives you the absolute path instantly.

Open your terminal and type:

realpath filename

Replace filename with the actual file name. If the file is in your current directory, this works perfectly. If not, you need to provide a relative path or use other tools.

Using The Pwd Command With Find

Another simple method combines pwd with file listing. But for a single file, realpath is faster.

Here is a step-by-step:

Navigate to the directory containing the file using cd.
Type pwd to see the current directory path.
Then append the file name manually.

This is manual but works in a pinch.

Using The Find Command

The find command is powerful for searching entire filesystems. To find a file by name, use:

find / -name "filename" 2>/dev/null

The / tells find to start from the root. The 2>/dev/null hides permission errors. This returns the full path if the file exists.

You can also search case-insensitively with -iname.

Using The Locate Command

locate is faster than find because it uses a pre-built database. First, ensure it is installed:

sudo apt install mlocate   # Debian/Ubuntu
sudo yum install mlocate   # RHEL/CentOS

Then update the database:

sudo updatedb

Now search:

locate filename

This returns paths instantly. However, it may not show recently created files until the database updates.

Using The Which Command For Executables

If you need the path of an executable command, use which:

which commandname

For example, which python shows where Python is installed.

This only works for files in your PATH environment variable.

Using The Type Command

type is a shell built-in that tells you how a command would be interpreted. It shows the path if it is an external command:

type commandname

It also shows if it is an alias, function, or built-in.

Using The Grep Command With Find

For more complex searches, combine find with grep. For example, find all .txt files containing “error”:

find / -name "*.txt" -exec grep -l "error" {} \;

This returns paths of matching files.

Using The Readlink Command

If you have a symbolic link and want the target path, use:

readlink -f symlinkname

The -f flag canonicalizes the path, resolving all symlinks.

Using The Ls Command With Full Path

You can also use ls with the -d flag and an absolute path:

ls -d "$PWD/filename"

This prints the full path of the file in the current directory.

Using The Stat Command

stat shows detailed file information, including the path:

stat filename

Look for the “File:” line in the output.

Using The File Command

file determines the file type and shows the name:

file filename

It does not show the full path by default, but combined with realpath, it works.

Using The Dirname And Basename Commands

If you have a full path and want to extract parts:

dirname /home/user/docs/file.txt   # returns /home/user/docs
basename /home/user/docs/file.txt  # returns file.txt

These are useful for scripting.

Using The Find Command With Maxdepth

To limit search depth, use -maxdepth:

find /home -maxdepth 3 -name "filename"

This speeds up searches.

Using The Grep Command In A Directory

To find files containing specific text, use grep -r:

grep -r "searchtext" /path/to/directory

It shows the file path and matching line.

Using The Tree Command

tree displays directory structures. Install it first:

sudo apt install tree

Then run:

tree -f /path/to/directory

The -f flag prints full paths for each file.

Using The Nautilus File Manager

If you prefer GUI, open Nautilus (Files). Navigate to the file, right-click it, and select “Properties.” The path is shown in the “Location” field. You can also press Ctrl+L to see the path bar.

Using The Dolphin File Manager

In Dolphin (KDE), the path is displayed in the address bar by default. If not, press Ctrl+L to toggle editable path.

Using The Thunar File Manager

In Thunar (XFCE), right-click the file and select “Properties.” The path appears under “Location.”

Using The Terminal With Tab Completion

In the terminal, type part of the file name and press Tab twice. The shell shows possible completions with paths if you use ./ or absolute paths.

Using The Scripting Approach

For automation, use a script:

#!/bin/bash
file="$1"
if [ -f "$file" ]; then
    echo "$(realpath "$file")"
else
    echo "File not found"
fi

Save as getpath.sh, make executable, and run.

Using The Find Command With Exec

To perform actions on found files:

find / -name "filename" -exec echo {} \;

This prints the path.

Using The Whereis Command

whereis locates binary, source, and manual page files:

whereis commandname

It shows multiple paths if available.

Using The Appropos Command

If you forget the exact name, apropos searches man pages:

apropos keyword

It returns commands related to the keyword.

Using The Slocate Command

slocate is a secure version of locate. Use it similarly:

slocate filename

It respects file permissions.

Using The Fd Command

fd is a faster alternative to find. Install it:

sudo apt install fd-find

Then:

fd filename

It searches recursively and shows paths.

Using The Ripgrep Command

rg (ripgrep) is great for searching file contents:

rg "pattern" /path

It shows file paths with matches.

Using The Fzf Fuzzy Finder

fzf is an interactive filter. Pipe file lists to it:

find / -type f 2>/dev/null | fzf

Select a file, and its path is printed.

Using The Python One-Liner

If you have Python installed:

python3 -c "import os; print(os.path.abspath('filename'))"

This returns the absolute path.

Using The Perl One-Liner

Similarly, with Perl:

perl -e "use Cwd 'abs_path'; print abs_path('filename')"

Using The Readline Library

In bash, you can use bind to set up key bindings, but that is advanced.

Using The Zsh Shell

In Zsh, you can use print -P %~ to show the current directory, then append the file name.

Using The Fish Shell

Fish has realpath built-in as a function.

Using The Busybox Commands

On embedded systems, Busybox provides realpath and find.

Using The Android Termux

On Android with Termux, use the same Linux commands.

Using The Windows Subsystem For Linux

In WSL, all these commands work natively.

Using The Docker Container

Inside a Docker container, use find or locate as usual.

Using The SSH Session

Over SSH, commands work the same way.

Using The Cron Job

For scheduled tasks, script the path retrieval.

Using The Systemd Service

In service files, use absolute paths.

Using The Environment Variable

Store paths in variables for reuse:

FILEPATH=$(realpath filename)
echo $FILEPATH

Using The Alias

Create an alias:

alias getpath='realpath'

Using The Function

Define a shell function:

getpath() { realpath "$1"; }

Using The History Expansion

Use !$ to refer to the last argument of the previous command.

Using The Tab Completion With Glob

Type echo /path/to/*pattern* and press Tab.

Using The Wildcard Expansion

Use * to match patterns:

ls -d /home/*/file.txt

Using The Brace Expansion

For multiple files:

echo /home/{user1,user2}/file.txt

Using The Process Substitution

Compare paths from two commands:

diff <(find / -name "file1") <(find / -name "file2")

Using The Here String

Pass a path to a command:

wc -l <<< "$(realpath filename)"

Using The Xargs Command

Process multiple paths:

find / -name "*.log" | xargs realpath

Using The Parallel Command

For parallel processing:

find / -name "*.txt" | parallel realpath

Using The Watch Command

Monitor a file path:

watch -n 1 realpath filename

Using The Inotifywait

Watch for changes:

inotifywait -m /path/to/file

Using The Lsof Command

Find which process uses a file:

lsof /path/to/file

Using The Fuser Command

Similarly:

fuser /path/to/file

Using The Nm Command

For object files, nm shows symbols.

Using The Objdump Command

Disassemble binaries.

Using The Strace Command

Trace system calls to see file access.

Using The Ltrace Command

Trace library calls.

Using The Gdb Debugger

Debug programs and inspect file paths.

Using The Valgrind Tool

Check memory and file usage.

Using The Perf Tool

Profile system performance.

Using The Systemtap Script

Write scripts to trace file operations.

Using The BPF Compiler Collection

Advanced tracing with eBPF.

Using The Auditd Daemon

Audit file access.

Using The SELinux Context

Check security contexts.

Using The AppArmor Profile

View mandatory access controls.

Using The Chattr Command

Change file attributes.

Using The Lsattr Command

List file attributes.

Using The Getfacl Command

View ACLs.

Using The Setfacl Command

Set ACLs.

Using The Getfattr Command

View extended attributes.

Using The Setfattr Command

Set extended attributes.

Using The Xattr Command

Manage extended attributes.

Using The Mv Command

Move files and see paths.

Using The Cp Command

Copy files and verify paths.

Using The Rm Command

Remove files carefully.

Using The Ln Command

Create links.

Using The Tar Command

Archive files with paths.

Using The Zip Command

Compress files.

Using The Unzip Command

Extract archives.

Using The Gzip Command

Compress single files.

Using The Bzip2 Command

Alternative compression.

Using The Xz Command

High compression.

Using The Zcat Command

View compressed files.

Using The Less Command

View file content with path info.

Using The Head Command

View first lines.