CODEWITHSUNDEEP
javafile
NotSoShabby
NotSoShabby

Reputation: 3728

getCanonicalPath returns a different path between different platforms

One of the lower methods in my code is getting the canonical path to the temp folder using the file.getCanonicalPath() function (File was defined as File file = new File("/tmp")). This works in linux and windows OS's, but on macOS, this function returns the following string - "/private/tmp" even though I have a tmp folder in my home directory and I don't have /private directory. Any idea where does this "private" directory is coming from and why this method is not directing me to "/tmp" in macOS even though its accessible?

Note: if I create a random, non- existing dir File object (File file = new File("/random")) it will return the canonical path just fine.

Upvotes: 2

Views: 669

Answers (1)

ᴘᴀɴᴀʏɪᴏᴛɪs
ᴘᴀɴᴀʏɪᴏᴛɪs

Reputation: 7529

A symbolic link, also termed a soft link, is a special kind of file that points to another file, much like a shortcut in Windows or a Macintosh alias. Unlike a hard link, a symbolic link does not contain the data in the target file. It simply points to another entry somewhere in the file system.

On macOS /tmp is symlinked to /private/tmp. The directory /private does exist and contains tmp inside it.

Upvotes: 1

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