# ExpandPath

Creates an absolute, platform-appropriate path that is equivalent to the value of 'path', appended to the base path.

This function (despite its name) can accept an absolute or relative path in the 'path' attribute.

## Method Signature

```
ExpandPath(path=[string])
```

### Arguments

| Argument | Type     | Required | Description                                                                                                                    | Default |
| -------- | -------- | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------- |
| `path`   | `string` | `true`   | Relative or absolute directory reference or filename, to convert to an absolute path. Can include forward or backward slashes. |         |

## Examples

### Expand the current path

[Run Example](https://try.boxlang.io/?code=eJxLrShIzEsJSCzJ0FBQ0tNXUtC05gIAR2MFhQ%3D%3D)

```java
expandPath( "./" );

```

Result: /Users/scottsteinbeck/Downloads/BL-1468/

### Expand the parent folder path

[Run Example](https://try.boxlang.io/?code=eJxLrShIzEsJSCzJ0FBQ0tPTV1LQtOYCAE1LBbM%3D)

```java
expandPath( "../" );

```

Result: /Users/scottsteinbeck/Downloads/BL-1468/

### Expand the path to a subfolder

[Run Example](https://try.boxlang.io/?code=eJxLrShIzEsJSCzJ0FBQKgBS%2BiX5%2BsWlSWn5OSmpRUoKmtZcAOUFC9w%3D)

```java
expandPath( "path/to/subfolder" );

```

Result: /Users/scottsteinbeck/Downloads/BL-1468/path/to/subfolder

## Related

* [ContractPath](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/contractpath.md)
* [CreateTempDirectory](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/createtempdirectory.md)
* [CreateTempFile](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/createtempfile.md)
* [DirectoryCopy](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/directorycopy.md)
* [DirectoryCreate](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/directorycreate.md)
* [DirectoryDelete](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/directorydelete.md)
* [DirectoryExists](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/directoryexists.md)
* [DirectoryList](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/directorylist.md)
* [DirectoryMove](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/directorymove.md)
* [DirectoryRename](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/directoryrename.md)
* [FileAppend](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/fileappend.md)
* [FileClose](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/fileclose.md)
* [FileCopy](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/filecopy.md)
* [FileDelete](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/filedelete.md)
* [FileExists](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/fileexists.md)
* [FileGetMimeType](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/filegetmimetype.md)
* [FileInfo](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/fileinfo.md)
* [FileIsEOF](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/fileiseof.md)
* [FileMove](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/filemove.md)
* [FileOpen](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/fileopen.md)
* [FileRead](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/fileread.md)
* [FileReadBinary](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/filereadbinary.md)
* [FileReadLine](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/filereadline.md)
* [FileSeek](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/fileseek.md)
* [FileSetAccessMode](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/filesetaccessmode.md)
* [FileSetAttribute](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/filesetattribute.md)
* [FileSetLastModified](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/filesetlastmodified.md)
* [FileSkipBytes](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/fileskipbytes.md)
* [FileWrite](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/filewrite.md)
* [FileWriteLine](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/filewriteline.md)
* [GetCanonicalPath](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/getcanonicalpath.md)
* [GetDirectoryFromPath](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/getdirectoryfrompath.md)
* [GetFileInfo](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/getfileinfo.md)
* [getTempFile](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/gettempfile.md)
* [PropertyFile](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/propertyfile.md)


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://boxlang.ortusbooks.com/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/expandpath.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.