${name:a}: Absolute Path

Interprets the variable value as a file path and turns it into an absolute path.

This modifier does not resolve symbolic links. Use modifier :A to resolve symbolic links.

Use modifier :P to use realpath semantics.

Links

• The Z Shell Manual on modifiers
• The UNIX realpath function

Examples

Convert a relative path into an absolute path

1 2 3

cd /home/user/work relativePath=./my-dir/sub/../my-file.txt echo $relativePath:a

Output:

1	/home/user/work/my-dir/my-file.txt