Pathtofilewithregularfile

Pathtofilewithregularfile is a term used to describe a filesystem path that resolves to a regular file, as opposed to a directory or a special file such as a symbolic link, device, socket, or FIFO. In Unix-like systems, a regular file contains a sequence of bytes and is identified in metadata as being of type regular file. Such files may store text, binary data, or other content and can be empty.

Across operating systems, the concept of a regular file maps to ordinary files maintained by the file system. On Windows, this corresponds to standard files stored on NTFS or similar volumes, distinct from folders and other special file types. The key distinction is that a regular file is not a directory or a special node in the file system.

Identifying a path as a regular file can be done via filesystem metadata. In POSIX systems, the stat structure and the S_ISREG macro indicate a regular file. In higher-level languages, common checks include Path.is_file or os.path.isfile, which typically verify that the path exists and points to a regular file, with behavior that may depend on whether symlinks are followed.

Practical use of a path to a regular file includes reading or writing its contents, subject to the file’s permissions. Opening a regular file for reading generally uses modes like "r" or "rb"; writing uses "w" or "wb" or "a" for appending. If the path points to a directory or a non-regular file, these operations may fail or behave differently.

Common considerations include handling broken or relative paths, respecting permissions, and guarding against symbolic link or path traversal vulnerabilities. When security is a concern, prefer explicit checks and APIs that control whether symlinks are followed and how paths are resolved. See also file types, stat, and path utilities in relevant programming environments.