C++ get directory prefix

Question

For example I have the string "root/data/home/file1.txt" I would like to get "root/data/home" Is there a convenient function in C++ that allows me to do this or should I code it myself?

Answer 1

You can do basic string manipulation, i.e.

std::string path = "root/data/home/file1.txt";
// no error checking here
std::string prefix = path.substr(0, path.find_last_of('/'));

or take a third option like Boost.Filesystem:

namespace fs = boost::filesystem;
fs::path path = "root/data/home/file1.txt";
fs::path prefix = path.parent_path();

Answer 2

If you're on a POSIX system, try dirname(3).