Powershell get current script directory name only

Question

I'm trying to store the current folder name into a variable (just the folder name, not the full path).

Everything that I could find on the internet is somehting like this:

PS C:\temp> get-location

Path
----
C:\temp

But what I want is just "temp" stored in a variable. How could I do this?

RoadRunner · Accepted Answer · 2020-04-30 14:58:37Z

35

You can use Split-Path to get the folder name from Get-Locationwith -Leaf:

PS C:\temp> Get-Location

Path
----
C:\temp

PS C:\temp> Split-Path -Path (Get-Location) -Leaf
temp

We can also use the automatic variable $PWD to get the current directory:

PS C:\temp> Split-Path -Path $pwd -Leaf
temp

Or using the automatic variable $PSScriptRoot, which uses the current directory the script is being run in:

Split-Path -Path $PSScriptRoot -Leaf

From the documentation for -Leaf:

Indicates that this cmdlet returns only the last item or container in the path. For example, in the path C:\Test\Logs\Pass1.log, it returns only Pass1.log.

Additionally, as @Scepticalist mentioned in the comments, we can use Get-Item and select the BaseName with Select-Object from a specific folder(instead of just the current working directory):

PS C:\> Get-Item -Path c:\temp | Select-Object -Property BaseName

BaseName
--------
temp

Or just select the BaseName property directly with Member Enumeration(PowerShell v3+):

PS C:\> (Get-Item -Path C:\temp).BaseName
temp

edited Apr 30, 2020 at 14:58

answered Apr 30, 2020 at 9:38

RoadRunner

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5 Comments

Scepticalist Over a year ago

Also be sure you need Get-Location. You can also use Get-Item -Path c:\temp | Select BaseName if you need the specific folder name instead of the current working directory name

RoadRunner Over a year ago

@Scepticalist Good point. To just get the basename we can use (Get-Item -Path C:\temp).BaseName

Theo Over a year ago

And to get the folder name of the current script directory as the title asks for, you can use Split-Path $PSScriptRoot -Leaf

Bob Lokerse Over a year ago

(pwd).Path also works.

Raildex Over a year ago

fyi: $PSScriptRoot does not change when you change the directory. So when using the $PSScriptRoot in the customizable prompt, it does not get updated when changing the directory

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