FTP Error 257: Pathname Created
FTP reply code 257 is returned in response to MKD (make directory) or PWD (print working directory) commands. For MKD, it confirms the directory was created and includes the new directory path in quotes. For PWD, it returns the current working directory path in quotes. The path is always enclosed in double quotes in the response (e.g., 257 "/home/user/newdir" created). If the path itself contains a double quote, it is escaped by doubling it. This response is how FTP clients determine their current location on the server.
Status
257 Pathname CreatedExample
220 ftp.example.com FTP server ready
USER alice
331 Password required
PASS ****
230 User alice logged in
PWD
257 "/home/alice" is current directory
MKD reports
257 "/home/alice/reports" directory createdHow to Troubleshoot
Parse the path from quotes
The directory path in the 257 response is enclosed in double quotes. When parsing programmatically, extract the text between the first and last double quotes, replacing any doubled quotes ("") with single quotes (").
Navigate to the new directory
After MKD creates a directory, use CWD to navigate into it. The path returned in the 257 response is the absolute path you can use with CWD.
Common Causes
PWD showing current directory
highThe client sent PWD and the server returned the absolute path of the current working directory. FTP clients use this to display the current location and resolve relative paths.
MKD created a new directory
highThe client sent MKD dirname and the server created the directory. The 257 response includes the full path of the newly created directory.
Related Error Codes
References
| Specification | Section |
|---|---|
| RFC 959 | RFC 959 §4.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
This reference was compiled from official RFCs, protocol specifications, and hands-on troubleshooting experience. AI tools were used primarily for formatting and organizing the content on the page.