### 18.7 GDB Data Files

GDB will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files are kept in a directory known as the data directory.

You can set the data directory’s name, and view the name GDB is currently using.

`set data-directory directory`

  Set the directory which GDB searches for auxiliary data files to directory.

`show data-directory`

  Show the directory GDB searches for auxiliary data files.

You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time ‘`--with-gdb-datadir`’ option. If the data directory is inside GDB’s configured binary prefix (set with ‘`--prefix`’ or ‘`--exec-prefix`’), then the default data directory will be updated automatically if the installed GDB is moved to a new location.

The data directory may also be specified with the `--data-directory` command line option. See Mode Options.