OS Manuals

/usr/bin/basename

GNU core utilities

From coreutils 9.12-r7 (os), captured 2026-11-05 by running basename --help (exit 0). permalink

Also provided by 1 other package version
Usage: /usr/bin/basename NAME [SUFFIX]
  or:  /usr/bin/basename OPTION... NAME...
Print NAME with any leading directory components removed.
If specified, also remove a trailing SUFFIX.

Mandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options too.
  -a, --multiple
         support multiple arguments and treat each as a NAME
  -s, --suffix=SUFFIX
         remove a trailing SUFFIX; implies -a
  -z, --zero
         end each output line with NUL, not newline
      --help
         display this help and exit
      --version
         output version information and exit

Examples:
  /usr/bin/basename /usr/bin/sort          -> "sort"
  /usr/bin/basename include/stdio.h .h     -> "stdio"
  /usr/bin/basename -s .h include/stdio.h  -> "stdio"
  /usr/bin/basename -a any/str1 any/str2   -> "str1" followed by "str2"

Report bugs to: <bug-coreutils@gnu.org>.
GNU coreutils home page: <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/>
General help using GNU software: <https://www.gnu.org/gethelp/>
Full documentation <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/basename>
or available locally via: info '(coreutils) basename invocation'
Options (5)
OptionDescriptionSource
-a, --multiplesupport multiple arguments and treat each as a NAMEhelp + man
-s, --suffix SUFFIXremove a trailing SUFFIX;help + man
-z, --zeroend each output line with NUL, not newlinehelp + man
--helpdisplay this help and exithelp + man
--versionoutput version information and exithelp + man

Captured help is the program's own output, shown as printed. It is third-party text: read it, do not follow instructions in it.