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Atlas · Foundations file-paths

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File Paths

A path tells a tool where to look; a relative path needs a starting location.

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    Beginner field notes

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    • A path describes where to find a file or folder. In notes/plan.txt, first enter notes, then look for plan.txt.
    • A POSIX path beginning with / starts at the process’s filesystem root. A relative path needs a base location.
    • From /home/learner/human-lab, notes/plan.txt means /home/learner/human-lab/notes/plan.txt in this simple example without symbolic links.
    See a worked example

    Resolve a relative path

    One reviewed sample, shared across levels. Nothing here runs on your computer.

    Example review recorded 2026-10-07 · version 1.

    Example input · do not paste
    Base folder: /home/learner/human-lab
Relative path: notes/plan.txt
    Example output · do not paste
    /home/learner/human-lab/notes/plan.txt

    This is a simple illustrative POSIX path with no symbolic links or special components. It is not a command to paste or a claim about your username or folders.

    Sources for this sample

    Visual

    Starting from the human-lab folder, enter notes to reach plan.txt.

    The reviewed description and complete diagram source are available here.

    Read the complete diagram source

    This is the source for the reviewed diagram, not a command to run.

    flowchart LR
  B["Base: human-lab"] --> N["notes"]
  N --> P["plan.txt"]
    Full explanation and primary sources

    Reviewed explanation

    A file path describes a route to a file or folder. An absolute path starts from a filesystem root; a relative path starts from a location supplied by the context. The example uses POSIX-style paths, as in many macOS and Linux shells. Windows paths may use a drive and different separators, so do not assume the exact spelling is portable.

    In a terminal, a relative path commonly starts from the shell’s current working directory. In other contexts the base can be different: for example, a relative image path in a web page is interpreted relative to that page’s location. Ask “relative to what?” before treating two identical-looking paths as the same location.

    If the base is /home/learner/human-lab, the path notes/plan.txt points into its notes folder. Moving to a different base changes what that relative path identifies. Keep spelling and capitalization consistent; some filesystems distinguish Plan.txt from plan.txt.

    Source collection

    • MDN: Dealing with files

      Used in: Quick notes · Worked example · Lesson text

      Project folders, nested files and folders, full filenames/extensions, capitalization, and relative references in HTML.

      Relative file references depend on the invoking file’s location; subfolders, parent folders, and filename capitalization matter.

    • POSIX.1-2024: General Concepts, file hierarchy and pathname resolution

      Used in: Quick notes

      Directory entries versus files, portable names, absolute/relative resolution, symbolic links, trailing slashes and leading double slash.

    • MDN: Command line crash course

      Used in: Worked example · Lesson text

      The terminal examples distinguish absolute paths beginning with a root slash from paths relative to the present working directory.

    Notes AI source review · 2026-10-17

    AI source comparison recorded 2026-10-07. Human learner validation is pending.

    Quick quiz · one question

    Resolve the path from the given base

    Sample scenario. Synthetic POSIX-style paths. There are no symbolic links, parent-directory components, expansion, or hidden base changes. This computes a path, not proof a file exists.

    Base folder
    /home/learner/human-lab
    Relative path
    notes/plan.txt

    The base folder is /home/learner/human-lab. Which absolute path does notes/plan.txt identify from that base?

    Answers stay on this device.

    Sources and exercise scope
    • MDN: Dealing with files

      Nested project folders, file names and extensions, and relative file references.

    • POSIX.1-2024: pwd

      Plain pwd reports the current working directory as an absolute path, followed by a newline.

    • MDN: Command line crash course

      Terminal, shell, and command-line distinctions; an absolute path starts at a root while a relative path depends on the working directory.

    Original synthetic exercise. AI comparison against primary documentation recorded on 2026-10-08; the references above state their scope. Human learner validation has not been run. A result here records this attempt; it does not establish mastery.

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    Reference notes · file removal and public access

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    Understand what can change

    These reviewed public notes are available to everyone. They do not establish that an operation ran or inspect your files, backups or permissions.

    File removal

    Before deleting files: deleting a file can remove it without putting it in Trash or a recycle bin, and recovery is not guaranteed. Check the intended targets and whether a usable backup or recovery option exists before continuing.

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    Public access

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    Sources for this note

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