# Working with Files in C#: an overview

A program finds a file by its path. An absolute path starts at the drive; a relative path starts at the program's current folder, which in Visual Studio is the build folder, so data files are copied there.

![Cheat sheet: Working with Files in C#: an overview](https://fsdtrainingmedia.blob.core.windows.net/public/images/2026/11/1a8889f01a4d4ae9a2ccaeb75dc5218e.webp)

- Category: C#
- Level: Apprentice
- Tags: Absolute Path (operating-system), c-sharp, Current Directory, File Input/Output (c-sharp), Path (c-sharp), Relative Path (operating-system)
- Updated: November 3, 2026

Source: https://www.ask-codey.com/cheat-sheets/working-with-files-in-csharp-an-overview-cheat-sheet