title: Verifying path equality with .Net
body: <p>What is the best way to compare two paths in .Net to figure out if they point to the same file or directory?</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li><p>How would one verify that these are the same:</p>
  
  <pre><code>c:\Some Dir\SOME FILE.XXX
  C:\\\SOME DIR\some file.xxx
  </code></pre></li>
  <li><p>Even better: is there a way to verify that these paths point to the same file on some network drive:</p>
  
  <pre><code>h:\Some File.xxx
  \\Some Host\Some Share\Some File.xxx
  </code></pre></li>
  </ol>
  
  <p><strong>UPDATE:</strong></p>
  
  <p>Kent Boogaart has answered my first question correctly; but I`m still curious to see if there is a solution to my second question about comparing paths of files and directories on a network drive.</p>
  
  <p><strong>UPDATE 2 (combined answers for my two questions):</strong></p>
  
  <p><strong>Question 1:</strong> local and/or network files and directories</p>
  
  <pre><code>c:\Some Dir\SOME FILE.XXX
  C:\\\SOME DIR\some file.xxx
  </code></pre>
  
  <p><strong>Answer:</strong> use <code>System.IO.Path.GetFullPath</code> as exemplified with:</p>
  
  <pre><code>var path1 = Path.GetFullPath(@"c:\Some Dir\SOME FILE.XXX");
  var path2 = Path.GetFullPath(@"C:\\\SOME DIR\subdir\..\some file.xxx");
  
  // outputs true
  Console.WriteLine("{0} == {1} ? {2}", path1, path2, string.Equals(path1, path2, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase));
  </code></pre>
  
  <p><strong>Question 2:</strong> local and/or network files and directories</p>
  
  <p><strong>Answer:</strong> Use the GetPath method as posted on
  <a href="http://briancaos.wordpress.com/2009/03/05/get-local-path-from-unc-path/" rel="noreferrer">http://briancaos.wordpress.com/2009/03/05/get-local-path-from-unc-path/</a></p>