How to Split a File Path with Powershell

When working with file names, it is sometimes necessary to extract the individual parts such as drive, path or name from them.

The following examples are mostly based on the $PROFILE path

❯ $PROFILE
F:\OneDrive\Dokumente\PowerShell\Microsoft.PowerShell_profile.ps1

Default Split-Path command retrieves the parent folder name of the file.

❯ Split-Path $PROFILE
F:\OneDrive\Dokumente\PowerShell

The default parameter is -Parent

❯ Split-Path $PROFILE -Parent
F:\OneDrive\Dokumente\PowerShell

Get the qualifier of a path

❯ Split-Path $PROFILE -Qualifier
F:

Use the -Leaf parameter if you only need file name

❯ Split-Path $PROFILE -Leaf
Microsoft.PowerShell_profile.ps1

Get all file names in a directory

❯ Split-Path (Get-ChildItem -Path E:\temp\ -File) -Leaf -Resolve
1 (1).txt
1 (2).txt
56.txt
asci_fun.txt
asci_fun2.txt

This can be done by Get-ChildItem only

❯ gci E:\temp\ -Name -File
1 (1).txt
1 (2).txt
56.txt
asci_fun.txt
asci_fun2.txt