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Join-Path

Module:
Microsoft.PowerShell.Management Module

Combines a path and a child path into a single path.

Syntax

Default (Default) 

Join-Path
    [-Path] <String[]>
    [-ChildPath] <String>
    [[-AdditionalChildPath] <String[]>]
    [-Resolve]
    [-Credential <PSCredential>]
    [<CommonParameters>]

Description

The Join-Path cmdlet combines a path and child-path into a single path. The provider supplies the path delimiters.

Examples

Example 1: Combine a path with a child path

Join-Path -Path "path" -ChildPath "childpath"

path\childpath

This command uses Join-Path to combine a path with a childpath.

Since the command is executed from the FileSystem provider, it provides the \ delimiter to join the paths.

Example 2: Combine paths that already contain directory separators

Join-Path -Path "path\" -ChildPath "\childpath"

path\childpath

Existing directory separators \ are handled so there is only one separator between Path and ChildPath.

Example 3: Display files and folders by joining a path with a child path

Join-Path "C:\win*" "System*" -Resolve

This command displays the files and folders that are referenced by joining the C:\Win\* path and the System\* child path. It displays the same files and folders as Get-ChildItem, but it displays the fully qualified path to each item. In this command, the Path and ChildPath optional parameter names are omitted.

Example 4: Use Join-Path with the PowerShell Registry provider

PS HKLM:\> Join-Path -Path System -ChildPath *ControlSet* -Resolve

HKLM:\System\ControlSet001
HKLM:\System\CurrentControlSet

This command displays the registry keys in the HKLM\System registry subkey that include ControlSet.

The Resolve parameter, attempts to resolve the joined path, including wildcards from the current provider path HKLM:\

Example 5: Combine multiple path roots with a child path

Join-Path -Path C:, D:, E:, F: -ChildPath New

C:\New
D:\New
E:\New
F:\New

This command uses Join-Path to combine multiple path roots with a child path.

Note

The Drives specified by Path must exist or the join of that entry will fail.

Example 6: Combine the roots of a file system drive with a child path

Get-PSDrive -PSProvider FileSystem |
    ForEach-Object {$_.Root} |
    Join-Path -ChildPath "Subdir"

C:\Subdir
D:\Subdir

This command combines the roots of each PowerShell file system drive in the console with the Subdir child path.

The command uses the Get-PSDrive cmdlet to get the PowerShell drives supported by the FileSystem provider. The ForEach-Object statement selects only the Root property of the PSDriveInfo objects and combines it with the specified child path.

The output shows that the PowerShell drives on the computer included a drive mapped to the C:\Program Files directory.

Example 7: Combine an indefinite number of paths

Join-Path a b c d e f g

a\b\c\d\e\f\g

The AdditionalChildPath parameter allows the joining of an unlimited number of paths.

In this example, no parameter names are used, thus "a" binds to Path, "b" to ChildPath and "c-g" to AdditionalChildPath.

Parameters

-AdditionalChildPath

Specifies additional elements to append to the value of the Path parameter. The ChildPath parameter is still mandatory and must be specified as well. This parameter is specified with the ValueFromRemainingArguments property, which enables joining an indefinite number of paths.

This parameter was added in PowerShell 6.0.

Parameter properties

Type:

String[]

Default value:None
Supports wildcards:False
DontShow:False

Parameter sets

(All)
Position:2
Mandatory:False
Value from pipeline:False
Value from pipeline by property name:True
Value from remaining arguments:False

-ChildPath

Specifies the elements to append to the value of the Path parameter. Wildcards are permitted.

Parameter properties

Type:String
Default value:None
Supports wildcards:True
DontShow:False

Parameter sets

(All)
Position:1
Mandatory:True
Value from pipeline:False
Value from pipeline by property name:True
Value from remaining arguments:False

-Credential

Note

This parameter isn't supported by any providers installed with PowerShell. To impersonate another user, or elevate your credentials when running this cmdlet, use Invoke-Command.

Parameter properties

Type:PSCredential
Default value:None
Supports wildcards:False
DontShow:False

Parameter sets

(All)
Position:Named
Mandatory:False
Value from pipeline:False
Value from pipeline by property name:True
Value from remaining arguments:False

-Path

Specifies the main path (or paths) to which the child-path is appended. The value of Path determines which provider joins the paths and adds the path delimiters. Wildcards are permitted.

Parameter properties

Type:

String[]

Default value:None
Supports wildcards:True
DontShow:False
Aliases:PSPath

Parameter sets

(All)
Position:0
Mandatory:True
Value from pipeline:True
Value from pipeline by property name:True
Value from remaining arguments:False

-Resolve

Indicates that this cmdlet should attempt to resolve the joined path from the current provider.

  • If you use wildcards, the cmdlet returns all paths that match the joined path.
  • If you don't use wildcards, the cmdlet returns an error if the path doesn't exist.

Parameter properties

Type:SwitchParameter
Default value:None
Supports wildcards:False
DontShow:False

Parameter sets

(All)
Position:Named
Mandatory:False
Value from pipeline:False
Value from pipeline by property name:False
Value from remaining arguments:False

CommonParameters

This cmdlet supports the common parameters: -Debug, -ErrorAction, -ErrorVariable, -InformationAction, -InformationVariable, -OutBuffer, -OutVariable, -PipelineVariable, -ProgressAction, -Verbose, -WarningAction, and -WarningVariable. For more information, see about_CommonParameters.

Inputs

String

You can pipe a string that contains a path to this cmdlet.

Outputs

String

This cmdlet returns a string that contains the resulting path.

Notes

The cmdlets that contain the Path noun manipulate path names and return the names in a concise format that all PowerShell providers can interpret. They're designed to be used where you want to display all or part of a path in a particular format. Use them like you would use Dirname, Normpath, Realpath, Join, or other path manipulators.

You can use the path cmdlets with several providers, including the FileSystem, Registry, and Certificate providers.

This cmdlet is designed to work with the data exposed by any provider. To list the providers available in your session, type Get-PSProvider. For more information, see about_Providers.