Server.MapPath(“.”), Server.MapPath(“~”), Server.MapPath(@“\”), Server.MapPath(“/”). What is the difference?

Question

Can anyone explain the difference between Server.MapPath(\".\"), Server.MapPath(\"~\"), Server.MapPath(@\"\\\") and Server.MapPa

Answer 1

Just to expand on @splattne's answer a little:

MapPath(string virtualPath) calls the following:

public string MapPath(string virtualPath)
{
    return this.MapPath(VirtualPath.CreateAllowNull(virtualPath));
}

MapPath(VirtualPath virtualPath) in turn calls MapPath(VirtualPath virtualPath, VirtualPath baseVirtualDir, bool allowCrossAppMapping) which contains the following:

//...
if (virtualPath == null)
{
    virtualPath = VirtualPath.Create(".");
}
//...

So if you call MapPath(null) or MapPath(""), you are effectively calling MapPath(".")