# Current Directory

*noun*

say it: **“KUR-ent dih-REK-tuh-ree”** **/ˈkɜːrənt dɪˈrɛktəri/**

The folder a program counts as "here" while it runs; relative paths start from it.

## What is **Current Directory**?

**Current Directory** — The folder a program counts as "here" while it runs. A relative path such as `data.csv` is looked for in this folder, so the same program can find a file from one folder and not from another.

```csharp
Console.WriteLine(Directory.GetCurrentDirectory());
string[] lines = File.ReadAllLines("books.csv"); // looked for in that folder
```

## In a sentence

- “The program couldn't find books.csv because the **current directory** was the bin folder.”

Level: Apprentice · [More Operating System terms at this level](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary?category=operating-system&level=2)

Updated: October 28, 2026

Source: https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/current-directory