Relative Pathname
A relative pathname starts from the working directory. To do this, it uses a couple of special notations to represent relative positions in the file system tree.
The Single Dot Notation​
The single dot (.) notation refers to the working directory.
Here is an example, you can change the working directory from /usr to /usr/bin in two different ways, either using an absolute pathname:
[tux@linuxbox usr]$ cd /usr/bin
[tux@linuxbox bin]$ pwd
/usr/bin
Or using the relative pathname.
[tux@linuxbox usr]$ cd ./bin
[tux@linuxbox bin]$ pwd
/usr/bin
[!note] In almost all cases, you can omit the
./part because it is implied. Typing the following does the same thing:[tux@linuxbox usr]$ cd bin
The Double Dot Notation​
The double dot (..) notation refers to the working directory's parent.
Here is an example, let's change the working directory to /usr/bin:
[tux@linuxbox ~]$ cd /usr/bin
[tux@linuxbox bin]$ pwd
/usr/bin
Now let's say that you wanted to change the working directory to the parent of /usr/bin, which is /usr you can use the .. notation.
[tux@linuxbox bin]$ cd ..
[tux@linuxbox usr]$ pwd
/usr
References​
- Shotts, W. (2019). The Linux Command Line: Navigation: Changing the Current Working Directory: Relative Pathnames (2nd ed.). No Starch Press