Python File Path Name

Question

What is the difference between "./file_name", "../file_name" and "file_name"when used as the file path in Python?

For example, if you want to save in the file_path, is it correct that "../file_name" will save file_name inside the current directory? And "./file_name" will save it to the desktop? It's really confusing.

Answer 1

./file_name and file_name mean the same thing - a file called file_name in the current working directory.

../file_name means a file called file_name in the in the parent directory of the current working directory.

Summary

. represents current directory whereas .. represents parent directory.

Explanation by example

if the current working directory is this/that/folder then:

• . results in this/that/folder
• .. results in this/that
• ../.. results in this
• .././../other results in this/other