31 Input/output library [input.output]

31.12 File systems [filesystems]

31.12.6 Class path [fs.class.path]

31.12.6.5 Members [fs.path.member]

31.12.6.5.11 Generation [fs.path.gen]

path lexically_normal() const;
Returns: A path whose pathname in the generic format is the normal form ([fs.path.generic]) of the pathname in the generic format of *this.
[Example 1: assert(path("foo/./bar/..").lexically_normal() == "foo/"); assert(path("foo/.///bar/../").lexically_normal() == "foo/");
The above assertions will succeed.
On Windows, the returned path's directory-separator characters will be backslashes rather than slashes, but that does not affect path equality.
— end example]
path lexically_relative(const path& base) const;
Effects: If:
  • root_name() != base.root_name() is true, or
  • is_absolute() != base.is_absolute() is true, or
  • !has_root_directory() && base.has_root_directory() is true, or
  • any filename in relative_path() or base.relative_path() can be interpreted as a root-name,
returns path().
[Note 1: 
On a POSIX implementation, no filename in a relative-path is acceptable as a root-name.
— end note]
Determines the first mismatched element of *this and base as if by: auto [a, b] = mismatch(begin(), end(), base.begin(), base.end());
Then,
  • if a == end() and b == base.end(), returns path("."); otherwise
  • let n be the number of filename elements in [b, base.end()) that are not dot or dot-dot or empty, minus the number that are dot-dot.
    If n<0, returns path(); otherwise
  • if n == 0 and (a == end() || a->empty()), returns path("."); otherwise
  • returns an object of class path that is default-constructed, followed by
    • application of operator/=(path("..")) n times, and then
    • application of operator/= for each element in [a, end()).
Returns: *this made relative to base.
Does not resolve ([fs.class.path]) symlinks.
Does not first normalize ([fs.path.generic]) *this or base.
[Example 2: assert(path("/a/d").lexically_relative("/a/b/c") == "../../d"); assert(path("/a/b/c").lexically_relative("/a/d") == "../b/c"); assert(path("a/b/c").lexically_relative("a") == "b/c"); assert(path("a/b/c").lexically_relative("a/b/c/x/y") == "../.."); assert(path("a/b/c").lexically_relative("a/b/c") == "."); assert(path("a/b").lexically_relative("c/d") == "../../a/b");
The above assertions will succeed.
On Windows, the returned path's directory-separator characters will be backslashes rather than slashes, but that does not affect path equality.
— end example]
[Note 2: 
If symlink following semantics are desired, use the operational function relative().
— end note]
[Note 3: 
If normalization ([fs.path.generic]) is needed to ensure consistent matching of elements, apply lexically_normal() to *this, base, or both.
— end note]
path lexically_proximate(const path& base) const;
Returns: If the value of lexically_relative(base) is not an empty path, return it.
Otherwise return *this.
[Note 4: 
If symlink following semantics are desired, use the operational function proximate().
— end note]
[Note 5: 
If normalization ([fs.path.generic]) is needed to ensure consistent matching of elements, apply lexically_normal() to *this, base, or both.
— end note]