# CodeIgniter User Guide Version 1.7.1

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# Path Helper

The Path Helper file contains functions that permits you to work with file paths on the server.

## Loading this Helper

This helper is loaded using the following code:

`$this->load->helper('path');`

The following functions are available:

## set_realpath()

Checks to see if the path exists. This function will return a server path without symbolic links or relative directory structures. An optional second argument will cause an error to be triggered if the path cannot be resolved.

`$directory = '/etc/passwd';
echo set_realpath($directory);
// returns "/etc/passwd"
$non_existent_directory = '/path/to/nowhere';
echo set_realpath($non_existent_directory, TRUE);
// returns an error, as the path could not be resolved
echo set_realpath($non_existent_directory, FALSE);
// returns "/path/to/nowhere"`

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