Emacs, how to get directory of current buffer?

Question

In emacs there is buffer-file-name that gives the full path to a file. But is there a way to get only the directory of the file loaded in the current buffer?

`default-directory` variable? – abo-abo Jan 28 '15 at 15:37 — abo-abo, Jan 28 '15 at 15:37

score 52 · Answer 1 · answered Nov 18 '15 at 18:43

52

Sometimes default-directory for the current buffer may be set to something other than the current directory of the file the buffer is currently visiting, in which case the solution above wouldn't give what the asker was looking for.

In such cases, you can use the file-name-directory method, like so: (file-name-directory buffer-file-name)

Here is a link to the docs:

http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/elisp/File-Name-Components.html

answered Nov 18 '15 at 18:43

Sandy

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Yes, abo-abo's answer addresses the question in the *title*, but Sandy's answer is what I'd recommend if you're specifically dealing with `buffer-file-name` (although the chances of it ever making a difference are slim). – phils Nov 19 '15 at 07:18
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`buffer-file-name` is a function, so this should be `(file-name-directory (buffer-file-name))`. – GManNickG Jul 13 '17 at 20:45
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Actually, according to the [docs](https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/elisp/Buffer-File-Name.html), `buffer-file-name` is both a function and a buffer-local variable, so both `(file-name-directory buffer-file-name)` and `(file-name-directory (buffer-file-name))` should work. – Sandy Jul 19 '17 at 03:32
Ah, my mistake. :) – GManNickG Jul 20 '17 at 15:43
I'm curious now if there is any reason to prefer one over the other.... – Sandy Jul 21 '17 at 01:17
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`buffer-file-name` can be `nil`, e.g. on the `*scratch*` buffer. – Andre Holzner Aug 20 '19 at 14:59

score 31 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 28 '15 at 15:45

You can use the default-directory variable.

Documentation: Name of default directory of current buffer. Should end with slash. To interactively change the default directory, use command `cd'.

Note that expand-file-name will use default-directory by default, so sometimes you don't even need to mention it.

Emacs, how to get directory of current buffer?

2 Answers2