# std::filesystem::path::parent_path

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< cpp‎ | filesystem‎ | path

path parent_path() const; |  | (since C++17)

Returns the path to the parent directory.

If has_relative_path() returns false, the result is a copy of *this. Otherwise, the result is a path whose generic format pathname is the longest prefix of the generic format pathname of *this that produces one fewer element in its iteration.

### Parameters

(none)

### Return value

The path to the parent directory, or a copy of *this if not has_relative_path().

### Exceptions

May throw implementation-defined exceptions.

### Example

Run this code

    #include <iostream>
    #include <filesystem>
    namespace fs = std::filesystem;
    int main()
    {
        for(fs::path p : {"/var/tmp/example.txt", "/", "/var/tmp/."})
            std::cout << "The parent path of " << p
                      << " is " << p.parent_path() << '\n';
    }

Possible output:

    The parent path of "/var/tmp/example.txt" is "/var/tmp"
    The parent path of "/" is "/"
    The parent path of "/var/tmp/." is "/var/tmp"

### See also

root_name | returns the root-name of the path, if present (public member function)
root_directory | returns the root directory of the path, if present (public member function)
root_path | returns the root path of the path, if present (public member function)

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