Node.js path.basename() Method

Last Updated : 4 Aug, 2026

The path.basename() method in Node.js is part of the Path module and is used to extract the last portion of a file path. It returns the file or directory name from a given path and can optionally remove a specified file extension from the result. This method is useful when working with file paths and filenames across different operating systems.

  • Extracts the filename from a complete file path.
  • Can remove a specified file extension from the returned filename.
  • Works with both absolute and relative paths.
  • Commonly used in file management, logging, and upload-related applications.

Syntax

path.basename(path[, suffix])

where,

  • path: The file path from which the basename is extracted.
  • suffix (optional): A file extension to remove from the returned basename.

Return Value: It returns a string with the filename portion of the path. It throws an error if the path or the extension parameters are not string values.

Example 1: Using UNIX file paths

javascript 
// Node.js program to demonstrate the   
// path.basename() method

// Import the path module
const path = require('path');

path1 = path.basename('/home/user/bash/index.txt');
console.log(path1)

// Using the extension parameter
path2 = path.basename('/home/user/bash/index.txt', '.txt');
console.log(path2)

Output:

index.txt
index

Example 2: Using Windows file paths

javascript 
// Node.js program to demonstrate the   
// path.basename() method

// Import the path module
const path = require('path');

path1 = path.basename('C:\\users\\bash\\index.html');
console.log(path1)

// Using the extension parameter
path2 = path.basename('C:\\users\\bash\\index.html', '.html');
console.log(path2)

Output:

index.html
index

Use Cases of path.basename() Method

  • Extracting filenames: Retrieves the file name from a complete file path without including the directory structure.
  • Removing file extensions: Returns the file name without a specified extension when the optional suffix parameter is provided.
  • Handling uploaded files: Helps display or store only the file name instead of the full path supplied during upload.
  • Generating cleaner logs and reports: Makes log entries and error messages easier to read by showing only the file name.
  • File processing and automation: Simplifies tasks that require working with file names while ignoring their parent directories.
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