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What is the purpose of `dirname` and `filename` in Node.js?

Q: What is the purpose of `__dirname` and `__filename` in Node.js?

**TL;DR.** __dirname is the **absolute path of the current module's directory** and __filename is the **absolute path of the current file**. They let you build paths **relative to the file** (not the unpredictable working directory). They exist in **CommonJS** only; ESM derives them from import.meta.url . /app/src/ __dirname = /app/src __filename = /app/src/index.js **How it works.** Node wraps each CommonJS module in a function that receiv

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This question checks understanding of common global variables used for path resolution in Node.js.

global variablespathsmodulescommonjs

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File-relative path that won't break

const path = require('node:path');

// Robust: anchored to this file
const template = path.join(__dirname, 'templates', 'email.html');

// Fragile: depends on where 'node' was launched
const fragile = './templates/email.html';

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