---
title: isAbsolute
framework: system
role: symbol
role_heading: Instance Property
path: system/filepath/isabsolute
---

# isAbsolute

Returns true if this path uniquely identifies the location of a file without reference to an additional starting location.

## Declaration

```swift
var isAbsolute: Bool { get }
```

## Discussion

Discussion On Unix platforms, absolute paths begin with a /. isAbsolute is equivalent to root != nil. On Windows, absolute paths are fully qualified paths. isAbsolute is not equivalent to root != nil for traditional DOS paths (e.g. C:foo and \bar have roots but are not absolute). UNC paths and device paths are always absolute. Traditional DOS paths are absolute only if they begin with a volume or drive followed by a : and a separator. NOTE: This does not perform shell expansion or substitute environment variables; paths beginning with ~ are considered relative. Examples: Unix: /usr/local/bin /tmp/foo.txt / Windows: C:\Users\ \\?\UNC\server\share\bar.exe \\server\share\bar.exe