---
layout: page
category-page: intermediate
category-title: Intermediate commands
tags: basename suffix prefix name
author: Fabiano Fenini
title: basename
previous-page: pages/cmd/interm/base64.html
next-page: pages/cmd/interm/bash.html
---
The <code>basename</code> command deletes any prefix ending with the last slash "/" character
present in string and also a suffix.

<h3>Usage</h3>
The default basename command syntax is:

<pre>
basename [flags] [string] [suffix]
</pre>

Where [flags] are the cat flags, read below for more info, the string command is
the pathname and the suffix, if indicated, will be also deleted.<br><br>

<h3>Flags</h3>

Here are some of the most common basename flags:

<ul>
    <li><b>-a</b>: Every aregument is treated as a string </li>
    <li><b>-s</b>: The suffix is taken as its argument  </li>
    <li><b>-a</b>: Supports multiple arguments and they will be treated as a name </li>
</ul>

<h3>Example<h3>

  <pre>
  basename /USI/command
  </pre>

  The shell will output this:
  <i>command<br>