why it is required to place a ".", & a "/" b4 executeables, to run ?

[Maaz]

Hi Dear Experts

why in linux executeable files are run as
# ./executeable_file_name

why it is required to place a period ".", and a slash "/" before executeable files, to run ?

Regards
Maaz

[Chris Xu · Accepted solution]

The "." indicates the current directory and "./filename" tells the system to run the file "filename" at the current directory, not to execute any other files with the same "filename" at a different location. So "./" is not required to run executable files. It is rather for the system to know which executable file to run. You can also run the executable by specifying the full path like /path-to-file/executable_file_name.

Chris

[John Poff]

Hi,

You have to specify "./" in front of your executeable because you don't have "." in your $PATH environmental variable, which is a good thing. Otherwise, some sneaky person could create a Trojan executeable named 'ps' or 'ls' and put it in a directory, waiting for you to run it.

JP

[HGN]

Hi

I think by this you would have understood the reason to sepcify a ./ is that the current directory or path where you are is not the PATH environment. As mentioned by others here it is also kind of a security thing so that you know where the executable is and can execute it.

Rgds

HGN

[Maaz]

dear Chris Xu, John Poff, and HGN I m highly thankful to u all, for replying and providing such a good/easy explanation.

John Poff the security issue u describe is no doubt is a very nice benefit, and feature. I m highly thankful to u for describing the security issue.

again Thanks a Million
Regards,
Maaz