Join Path - PowerShell

Overview

Join-Path concatenates two or more path segments into a single path string. It automatically handles path separators and can resolve relative paths to absolute paths. This command is useful for constructing paths in a cross-platform compatible manner.

Syntax

Join-Path [-Path] <string[]> [-Delimiter <string>]

Options/Flags

  • -Path: Specifies the path segments to concatenate.
  • -Delimiter: Specifies the delimiter to use when joining the path segments. The default delimiter is the system-dependent path separator.

Examples

Simple Example:

Joins two path segments:

Join-Path -Path "C:\Users" "Administrator"
# Output: C:\Users\Administrator

Complex Example:

Resolves relative paths and handles path separators:

Join-Path -Path "C:\Users\", "~/Documents"
# Output: C:\Users\Administrator\Documents

Using Custom Delimiter:

Uses a custom delimiter to join path segments:

Join-Path -Path "part1", "part2" -Delimiter "/"
# Output: part1/part2

Common Issues

  • Invalid Path Segments: Ensure that the provided path segments are valid file paths.
  • Incorrect Delimiter: Use the appropriate path separator for the target platform.
  • Relative Paths: Relative paths are resolved based on the current directory. Ensure the current directory is set correctly.

Integration

Join-Path can be used in conjunction with other PowerShell commands:

  • Get-ChildItem: Retrieve a list of files and directories within a path.
  • Set-Location: Change the current directory.
  • New-Item: Create a new file or directory.
  • Get-Path: Resolves a path to its fully qualified form.
  • Resolve-Path: Resolves a path to its canonical form.