GetCurrentDirectory Function - Windows API Reference

Retrieves the current working directory of the calling process.

Syntax

DWORD GetCurrentDirectory(
                  DWORD  nBufferLength,
                  LPTSTR lpBuffer
                );

Parameters

Parameter	Description
`nBufferLength`	The size, in characters, of the buffer pointed to by `lpBuffer`.
`lpBuffer`	A pointer to a buffer that receives a null-terminated string that specifies the drive and path of the current directory.

Return Value

If the function succeeds, the return value is the length, in characters, of the string copied to lpBuffer, not including the terminating null character. If the buffer pointed to by lpBuffer is not large enough to contain the current directory, the return value is the required buffer size in characters, including the terminating null character.

Remarks

The current working directory is the directory that the process uses for file operations if a full path is not specified.

To get the current directory for a drive other than the current drive, use the GetFullPathName function.

Note: For a list of common error codes, see System Error Codes.

Requirements

Component	Value
Minimum supported client	Windows XP
Minimum supported server	Windows Server 2003
Target Platform	Windows
Header	`Winbase.h` (include `Windows.h`)
Library	`Kernel32.lib`
DLL	`Kernel32.dll`

See Also