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HTML HTML Basics Going Further with HTML Root-relative Paths

Posted by Victor Mercier
Victor Mercier
14,667 Points

Root relative and relative file path

Is someone able able to explain me the advantage of using root relative path to relative file path? Thanks in advance!

Max Klopsch
Max Klopsch
22,628 Points
Max Klopsch
Max Klopsch
22,628 Points

Say your CSS file is at the root of the website: example.com/styles.css but you are on the following page example.com/contact. If you use the relative file path to the css href="styles.css" the browser won't be able to find the file because it will look at example.com/contact/styles.css In this case the root relative file path href="/styles.css" will let the browser know to look at the root of the website so at example.com/styles.css and be able to find the file.

1 Answer

Manuel A. Martinez
Manuel A. Martinez
10,919 Points

Hi Victor;

I added a link that explains the differences between:

  1. Absolute File Paths
  2. Relative File Paths
  3. Root Relative Paths

Follow this link: Absolute File Paths VS. Relative File Paths VS. Root Relative Paths

Hope this answers your question.

Manny