targetdir

Targetdir is a term used in software development to denote the directory that serves as the installation or deployment target for build outputs. It is typically represented as a variable or placeholder in build scripts, packaging recipes, or installer definitions. While not a single formal standard, TARGETDIR appears in multiple ecosystems to reference the location where binaries, libraries, resources, and documentation should be placed after a build or install step.

In Windows Installer, TARGETDIR is a well-known directory reference name in the Directory table. It represents the root of the installation path and is used to anchor the file layout for components.

In many cross-platform build systems, targetdir is used as a variable that stands for the installation prefix. For example, in CMake-based projects the install directive uses a destination path that is often aligned with CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX. Some Makefile-based projects expose a TARGETDIR variable to customize where the install target places files. In packaging workflows, a staging directory is often defined as the targetdir or via DESTDIR, allowing files to be collected in a separate tree before final packaging.

Best practices include using absolute paths for targetdir, validating existence or creating it when needed, and avoiding hard-coded user-specific paths. When cross-compiling or packaging for different distributions, respect the file system layout conventions of the target platform.

See also: DESTDIR, CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX, Installation directory, Windows Installer TARGETDIR.