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GHC 9.10.3 · lts/ghc-9.10.x · c74966e · 2026-09-27

Modulefilepath-1.5.4.0Haskell2010

System.OsPath.Windows.Internal

A library for FilePath manipulations, using Windows style paths on all platforms. Importing System.FilePath is usually better.

Given the example FilePath: /directory/file.ext

We can use the following functions to extract pieces.

And we could have built an equivalent path with the following expressions:

  • "/directory" </> "file.ext".

  • "/directory/file" <.> "ext".

  • "/directory/file.txt" -<.> "ext".

Each function in this module is documented with several examples, which are also used as tests.

Here are a few examples of using the filepath functions together:

Example 1: Find the possible locations of a Haskell module Test imported from module Main:

[replaceFileName path_to_main "Test" <.> ext | ext <- ["hs","lhs"] ]

Example 2: Download a file from url and save it to disk:

do let file = makeValid url
   System.Directory.createDirectoryIfMissing True (takeDirectory file)

Example 3: Compile a Haskell file, putting the .hi file under interface:

takeDirectory file </> "interface" </> (takeFileName file -<.> "hi")

References: [1] Naming Files, Paths and Namespaces (Microsoft MSDN)

  • 51 values
  • Packagefilepath-1.5.4.0
  • Exports51
  • LanguageHaskell2010
  • LicenceBSD-3-Clause
  • SourceInternal.hs

Separator predicates

7 declarations
valuepathSeparator :: Word16
#

The character that separates directories. In the case where more than one character is possible, pathSeparator is the 'ideal' one.

Windows: pathSeparator == '\\'
Posix:   pathSeparator ==  '/'
isPathSeparator pathSeparator
valuepathSeparators :: [Word16]
#

The list of all possible separators.

Windows: pathSeparators == ['\\', '/']
Posix:   pathSeparators == ['/']
pathSeparator `elem` pathSeparators

The character that is used to separate the entries in the $PATH environment variable.

Windows: searchPathSeparator == ';'
Posix:   searchPathSeparator == ':'

$PATH methods

1 declaration

Take a string, split it on the searchPathSeparator character. Blank items are ignored on Windows, and converted to . on Posix. On Windows path elements are stripped of quotes.

Follows the recommendations in http://www.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/009695399/basedefs/xbd_chap08.html

Posix:   splitSearchPath "File1:File2:File3"  == ["File1","File2","File3"]
Posix:   splitSearchPath "File1::File2:File3" == ["File1",".","File2","File3"]
Windows: splitSearchPath "File1;File2;File3"  == ["File1","File2","File3"]
Windows: splitSearchPath "File1;;File2;File3" == ["File1","File2","File3"]
Windows: splitSearchPath "File1;\"File2\";File3" == ["File1","File2","File3"]

Extension functions

14 declarations

Split on the extension. addExtension is the inverse.

splitExtension "/directory/path.ext" == ("/directory/path",".ext")
uncurry (<>) (splitExtension x) == x
Valid x => uncurry addExtension (splitExtension x) == x
splitExtension "file.txt" == ("file",".txt")
splitExtension "file" == ("file","")
splitExtension "file/file.txt" == ("file/file",".txt")
splitExtension "file.txt/boris" == ("file.txt/boris","")
splitExtension "file.txt/boris.ext" == ("file.txt/boris",".ext")
splitExtension "file/path.txt.bob.fred" == ("file/path.txt.bob",".fred")
splitExtension "file/path.txt/" == ("file/path.txt/","")

Get the extension of a file, returns "" for no extension, .ext otherwise.

takeExtension "/directory/path.ext" == ".ext"
takeExtension x == snd (splitExtension x)
Valid x => takeExtension (addExtension x "ext") == ".ext"
Valid x => takeExtension (replaceExtension x "ext") == ".ext"

Set the extension of a file, overwriting one if already present, equivalent to -<.>.

replaceExtension "/directory/path.txt" "ext" == "/directory/path.ext"
replaceExtension "/directory/path.txt" ".ext" == "/directory/path.ext"
replaceExtension "file.txt" ".bob" == "file.bob"
replaceExtension "file.txt" "bob" == "file.bob"
replaceExtension "file" ".bob" == "file.bob"
replaceExtension "file.txt" "" == "file"
replaceExtension "file.fred.bob" "txt" == "file.fred.txt"
replaceExtension x y == addExtension (dropExtension x) y

Add an extension, even if there is already one there, equivalent to <.>.

addExtension "/directory/path" "ext" == "/directory/path.ext"
addExtension "file.txt" "bib" == "file.txt.bib"
addExtension "file." ".bib" == "file..bib"
addExtension "file" ".bib" == "file.bib"
addExtension "/" "x" == "/.x"
addExtension x "" == x
Valid x => takeFileName (addExtension (addTrailingPathSeparator x) "ext") == ".ext"
Windows: addExtension "\\\\share" ".txt" == "\\\\share\\.txt"

Does the given filename have an extension?

hasExtension "/directory/path.ext" == True
hasExtension "/directory/path" == False
null (takeExtension x) == not (hasExtension x)

Split on all extensions.

splitExtensions "/directory/path.ext" == ("/directory/path",".ext")
splitExtensions "file.tar.gz" == ("file",".tar.gz")
uncurry (<>) (splitExtensions x) == x
Valid x => uncurry addExtension (splitExtensions x) == x

Drop all extensions.

dropExtensions "/directory/path.ext" == "/directory/path"
dropExtensions "file.tar.gz" == "file"
not $ hasExtension $ dropExtensions x
not $ any isExtSeparator $ takeFileName $ dropExtensions x

Does the given filename have the specified extension?

"png" `isExtensionOf` "/directory/file.png" == True
".png" `isExtensionOf` "/directory/file.png" == True
".tar.gz" `isExtensionOf` "bar/foo.tar.gz" == True
"ar.gz" `isExtensionOf` "bar/foo.tar.gz" == False
"png" `isExtensionOf` "/directory/file.png.jpg" == False
"csv/table.csv" `isExtensionOf` "/data/csv/table.csv" == False

Drop the given extension from a ShortByteString, and the "." preceding it. Returns Nothing if the ShortByteString does not have the given extension, or Just and the part before the extension if it does.

This function can be more predictable than dropExtensions, especially if the filename might itself contain . characters.

stripExtension "hs.o" "foo.x.hs.o" == Just "foo.x"
stripExtension "hi.o" "foo.x.hs.o" == Nothing
dropExtension x == fromJust (stripExtension (takeExtension x) x)
dropExtensions x == fromJust (stripExtension (takeExtensions x) x)
stripExtension ".c.d" "a.b.c.d"  == Just "a.b"
stripExtension ".c.d" "a.b..c.d" == Just "a.b."
stripExtension "baz"  "foo.bar"  == Nothing
stripExtension "bar"  "foobar"   == Nothing
stripExtension ""     x          == Just x

Filename/directory functions

13 declarations

Split a filename into directory and file. </> is the inverse. The first component will often end with a trailing slash.

splitFileName "/directory/file.ext" == ("/directory/","file.ext")
Valid x => uncurry (</>) (splitFileName x) == x || fst (splitFileName x) == "./"
Valid x => isValid (fst (splitFileName x))
splitFileName "file/bob.txt" == ("file/", "bob.txt")
splitFileName "file/" == ("file/", "")
splitFileName "bob" == ("./", "bob")
Posix:   splitFileName "/" == ("/","")
Windows: splitFileName "c:" == ("c:","")
Windows: splitFileName "\\\\?\\A:\\fred" == ("\\\\?\\A:\\","fred")
Windows: splitFileName "\\\\?\\A:" == ("\\\\?\\A:","")

Get the file name.

takeFileName "/directory/file.ext" == "file.ext"
takeFileName "test/" == ""
isSuffixOf (takeFileName x) x
takeFileName x == snd (splitFileName x)
Valid x => takeFileName (replaceFileName x "fred") == "fred"
Valid x => takeFileName (x </> "fred") == "fred"
Valid x => isRelative (takeFileName x)

Drop the filename. Unlike takeDirectory, this function will leave a trailing path separator on the directory.

dropFileName "/directory/file.ext" == "/directory/"
dropFileName x == fst (splitFileName x)
isPrefixOf (takeDrive x) (dropFileName x)

Get the base name, without an extension or path.

takeBaseName "/directory/file.ext" == "file"
takeBaseName "file/test.txt" == "test"
takeBaseName "dave.ext" == "dave"
takeBaseName "" == ""
takeBaseName "test" == "test"
takeBaseName (addTrailingPathSeparator x) == ""
takeBaseName "file/file.tar.gz" == "file.tar"

Set the base name.

replaceBaseName "/directory/other.ext" "file" == "/directory/file.ext"
replaceBaseName "file/test.txt" "bob" == "file/bob.txt"
replaceBaseName "fred" "bill" == "bill"
replaceBaseName "/dave/fred/bob.gz.tar" "new" == "/dave/fred/new.tar"
Valid x => replaceBaseName x (takeBaseName x) == x

Get the directory name, move up one level.

          takeDirectory "/directory/other.ext" == "/directory"
          isPrefixOf (takeDirectory x) x || takeDirectory x == "."
          takeDirectory "foo" == "."
          takeDirectory "/" == "/"
          takeDirectory "/foo" == "/"
          takeDirectory "/foo/bar/baz" == "/foo/bar"
          takeDirectory "/foo/bar/baz/" == "/foo/bar/baz"
          takeDirectory "foo/bar/baz" == "foo/bar"
Windows:  takeDirectory "foo\\bar" == "foo"
Windows:  takeDirectory "foo\\bar\\\\" == "foo\\bar"
Windows:  takeDirectory "C:\\" == "C:\\"

Combine two paths with a path separator. If the second path starts with a path separator or a drive letter, then it returns the second. The intention is that readFile (dir </> file) will access the same file as setCurrentDirectory dir; readFile file.

Posix:   "/directory" </> "file.ext" == "/directory/file.ext"
Windows: "/directory" </> "file.ext" == "/directory\\file.ext"
         "directory" </> "/file.ext" == "/file.ext"
Valid x => (takeDirectory x </> takeFileName x) `equalFilePath` x

Combined:

Posix:   "/" </> "test" == "/test"
Posix:   "home" </> "bob" == "home/bob"
Posix:   "x:" </> "foo" == "x:/foo"
Windows: "C:\\foo" </> "bar" == "C:\\foo\\bar"
Windows: "home" </> "bob" == "home\\bob"

Not combined:

Posix:   "home" </> "/bob" == "/bob"
Windows: "home" </> "C:\\bob" == "C:\\bob"

Not combined (tricky):

On Windows, if a filepath starts with a single slash, it is relative to the root of the current drive. In [1], this is (confusingly) referred to as an absolute path. The current behavior of </> is to never combine these forms.

Windows: "home" </> "/bob" == "/bob"
Windows: "home" </> "\\bob" == "\\bob"
Windows: "C:\\home" </> "\\bob" == "\\bob"

On Windows, from [1]: "If a file name begins with only a disk designator but not the backslash after the colon, it is interpreted as a relative path to the current directory on the drive with the specified letter." The current behavior of </> is to never combine these forms.

Windows: "D:\\foo" </> "C:bar" == "C:bar"
Windows: "C:\\foo" </> "C:bar" == "C:bar"

Split a path by the directory separator.

splitPath "/directory/file.ext" == ["/","directory/","file.ext"]
concat (splitPath x) == x
splitPath "test//item/" == ["test//","item/"]
splitPath "test/item/file" == ["test/","item/","file"]
splitPath "" == []
Windows: splitPath "c:\\test\\path" == ["c:\\","test\\","path"]
Posix:   splitPath "/file/test" == ["/","file/","test"]

Join path elements back together.

joinPath z == foldr (</>) "" z
joinPath ["/","directory/","file.ext"] == "/directory/file.ext"
Valid x => joinPath (splitPath x) == x
joinPath [] == ""
Posix: joinPath ["test","file","path"] == "test/file/path"

Just as splitPath, but don't add the trailing slashes to each element.

         splitDirectories "/directory/file.ext" == ["/","directory","file.ext"]
         splitDirectories "test/file" == ["test","file"]
         splitDirectories "/test/file" == ["/","test","file"]
Windows: splitDirectories "C:\\test\\file" == ["C:\\", "test", "file"]
         Valid x => joinPath (splitDirectories x) `equalFilePath` x
         splitDirectories "" == []
Windows: splitDirectories "C:\\test\\\\\\file" == ["C:\\", "test", "file"]
         splitDirectories "/test///file" == ["/","test","file"]

Drive functions

6 declarations

Split a path into a drive and a path. On Posix, / is a Drive.

uncurry (<>) (splitDrive x) == x
Windows: splitDrive "file" == ("","file")
Windows: splitDrive "c:/file" == ("c:/","file")
Windows: splitDrive "c:\\file" == ("c:\\","file")
Windows: splitDrive "\\\\shared\\test" == ("\\\\shared\\","test")
Windows: splitDrive "\\\\shared" == ("\\\\shared","")
Windows: splitDrive "\\\\?\\UNC\\shared\\file" == ("\\\\?\\UNC\\shared\\","file")
Windows: splitDrive "\\\\?\\UNCshared\\file" == ("\\\\?\\","UNCshared\\file")
Windows: splitDrive "\\\\?\\d:\\file" == ("\\\\?\\d:\\","file")
Windows: splitDrive "/d" == ("","/d")
Posix:   splitDrive "/test" == ("/","test")
Posix:   splitDrive "//test" == ("//","test")
Posix:   splitDrive "test/file" == ("","test/file")
Posix:   splitDrive "file" == ("","file")

Join a drive and the rest of the path.

Valid x => uncurry joinDrive (splitDrive x) == x
Windows: joinDrive "C:" "foo" == "C:foo"
Windows: joinDrive "C:\\" "bar" == "C:\\bar"
Windows: joinDrive "\\\\share" "foo" == "\\\\share\\foo"
Windows: joinDrive "/:" "foo" == "/:\\foo"

Does a path have a drive.

not (hasDrive x) == null (takeDrive x)
Posix:   hasDrive "/foo" == True
Windows: hasDrive "C:\\foo" == True
Windows: hasDrive "C:foo" == True
         hasDrive "foo" == False
         hasDrive "" == False
valueisDrive :: ShortByteString -> Bool
#

Is an element a drive

Posix:   isDrive "/" == True
Posix:   isDrive "/foo" == False
Windows: isDrive "C:\\" == True
Windows: isDrive "C:\\foo" == False
         isDrive "" == False

Trailing slash functions

3 declarations

Add a trailing file path separator if one is not already present.

hasTrailingPathSeparator (addTrailingPathSeparator x)
hasTrailingPathSeparator x ==> addTrailingPathSeparator x == x
Posix:    addTrailingPathSeparator "test/rest" == "test/rest/"

Remove any trailing path separators

dropTrailingPathSeparator "file/test/" == "file/test"
          dropTrailingPathSeparator "/" == "/"
Windows:  dropTrailingPathSeparator "\\" == "\\"
Posix:    not (hasTrailingPathSeparator (dropTrailingPathSeparator x)) || isDrive x

File name manipulations

7 declarations

Normalise a file

  • // outside of the drive can be made blank

  • / -> pathSeparator

  • ./ -> ""

Does not remove "..", because of symlinks.

Posix:   normalise "/file/\\test////" == "/file/\\test/"
Posix:   normalise "/file/./test" == "/file/test"
Posix:   normalise "/test/file/../bob/fred/" == "/test/file/../bob/fred/"
Posix:   normalise "../bob/fred/" == "../bob/fred/"
Posix:   normalise "/a/../c" == "/a/../c"
Posix:   normalise "./bob/fred/" == "bob/fred/"
Windows: normalise "c:\\file/bob\\" == "C:\\file\\bob\\"
Windows: normalise "c:\\" == "C:\\"
Windows: normalise "c:\\\\\\\\" == "C:\\"
Windows: normalise "C:.\\" == "C:"
Windows: normalise "\\\\server\\test" == "\\\\server\\test"
Windows: normalise "//server/test" == "\\\\server\\test"
Windows: normalise "c:/file" == "C:\\file"
Windows: normalise "/file" == "\\file"
Windows: normalise "\\" == "\\"
Windows: normalise "/./" == "\\"
         normalise "." == "."
Posix:   normalise "./" == "./"
Posix:   normalise "./." == "./"
Posix:   normalise "/./" == "/"
Posix:   normalise "/" == "/"
Posix:   normalise "bob/fred/." == "bob/fred/"
Posix:   normalise "//home" == "/home"

Equality of two FILEPATHs. If you call System.Directory.canonicalizePath first this has a much better chance of working. Note that this doesn't follow symlinks or DOSNAM~1s.

Similar to normalise, this does not expand "..", because of symlinks.

         x == y ==> equalFilePath x y
         normalise x == normalise y ==> equalFilePath x y
         equalFilePath "foo" "foo/"
         not (equalFilePath "/a/../c" "/c")
         not (equalFilePath "foo" "/foo")
Posix:   not (equalFilePath "foo" "FOO")
Windows: equalFilePath "foo" "FOO"
Windows: not (equalFilePath "C:" "C:/")

Contract a filename, based on a relative path. Note that the resulting path will never introduce .. paths, as the presence of symlinks means ../b may not reach a/b if it starts from a/c. For a worked example see this blog post.

The corresponding makeAbsolute function can be found in System.Directory.

         makeRelative "/directory" "/directory/file.ext" == "file.ext"
         Valid x => makeRelative (takeDirectory x) x `equalFilePath` takeFileName x
         makeRelative x x == "."
         Valid x y => equalFilePath x y || (isRelative x && makeRelative y x == x) || equalFilePath (y </> makeRelative y x) x
Windows: makeRelative "C:\\Home" "c:\\home\\bob" == "bob"
Windows: makeRelative "C:\\Home" "c:/home/bob" == "bob"
Windows: makeRelative "C:\\Home" "D:\\Home\\Bob" == "D:\\Home\\Bob"
Windows: makeRelative "C:\\Home" "C:Home\\Bob" == "C:Home\\Bob"
Windows: makeRelative "/Home" "/home/bob" == "bob"
Windows: makeRelative "/" "//" == "//"
Posix:   makeRelative "/Home" "/home/bob" == "/home/bob"
Posix:   makeRelative "/home/" "/home/bob/foo/bar" == "bob/foo/bar"
Posix:   makeRelative "/fred" "bob" == "bob"
Posix:   makeRelative "/file/test" "/file/test/fred" == "fred"
Posix:   makeRelative "/file/test" "/file/test/fred/" == "fred/"
Posix:   makeRelative "some/path" "some/path/a/b/c" == "a/b/c"

Is a path relative, or is it fixed to the root?

Windows: isRelative "path\\test" == True
Windows: isRelative "c:\\test" == False
Windows: isRelative "c:test" == True
Windows: isRelative "c:\\" == False
Windows: isRelative "c:/" == False
Windows: isRelative "c:" == True
Windows: isRelative "\\\\foo" == False
Windows: isRelative "\\\\?\\foo" == False
Windows: isRelative "\\\\?\\UNC\\foo" == False
Windows: isRelative "/foo" == True
Windows: isRelative "\\foo" == True
Posix:   isRelative "test/path" == True
Posix:   isRelative "/test" == False
Posix:   isRelative "/" == False

According to [1]:

  • "A UNC name of any format [is never relative]."

  • "You cannot use the "\?" prefix with a relative path."

valueisValid :: ShortByteString -> Bool
#

Is a ShortByteString valid, i.e. could you create a file like it? This function checks for invalid names, and invalid characters, but does not check if length limits are exceeded, as these are typically filesystem dependent.

         isValid "" == False
         isValid "\0" == False
Posix:   isValid "/random_ path:*" == True
Posix:   isValid x == not (null x)
Windows: isValid "c:\\test" == True
Windows: isValid "c:\\test:of_test" == False
Windows: isValid "test*" == False
Windows: isValid "c:\\test\\nul" == False
Windows: isValid "c:\\test\\prn.txt" == False
Windows: isValid "c:\\nul\\file" == False
Windows: isValid "\\\\" == False
Windows: isValid "\\\\\\foo" == False
Windows: isValid "\\\\?\\D:file" == False
Windows: isValid "foo\tbar" == False
Windows: isValid "nul .txt" == False
Windows: isValid " nul.txt" == True

Take a ShortByteString and make it valid; does not change already valid FILEPATHs.

isValid (makeValid x)
isValid x ==> makeValid x == x
makeValid "" == "_"
makeValid "file\0name" == "file_name"
Windows: makeValid "c:\\already\\/valid" == "c:\\already\\/valid"
Windows: makeValid "c:\\test:of_test" == "c:\\test_of_test"
Windows: makeValid "test*" == "test_"
Windows: makeValid "c:\\test\\nul" == "c:\\test\\nul_"
Windows: makeValid "c:\\test\\prn.txt" == "c:\\test\\prn_.txt"
Windows: makeValid "c:\\test/prn.txt" == "c:\\test/prn_.txt"
Windows: makeValid "c:\\nul\\file" == "c:\\nul_\\file"
Windows: makeValid "\\\\\\foo" == "\\\\drive"
Windows: makeValid "\\\\?\\D:file" == "\\\\?\\D:\\file"
Windows: makeValid "nul .txt" == "nul _.txt"