mxm commented on code in PR #15630:
URL: https://github.com/apache/iceberg/pull/15630#discussion_r3028480832


##########
format/spec.md:
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@@ -123,6 +139,35 @@ Tables do not require random-access writes. Once written, 
data and metadata file
 
 Tables do not require rename, except for tables that use atomic rename to 
implement the commit operation for new metadata files.
 
+### Paths in Metadata
+
+Path strings stored in Iceberg metadata files are classified as one of two 
types:
+
+* **Absolute path** -- A path string that includes a [URI 
scheme](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc3986#section-3.1) (e.g., 
`s3://`, `gs://`, `hdfs://`, `file:///`). Absolute paths are used as-is without 
modification.
+* **Relative path** -- A path string that does not include a URI scheme. 
Relative paths must be resolved against the table's base location before use.
+
+Prior to v4, all path fields must contain absolute paths. Starting with v4, 
path fields may contain either absolute or relative paths. Directory navigation 
symbols (`.` and `..`) and other file system conventions are not supported in 
relative paths.

Review Comment:
   I agree that Iceberg should not normalize paths. Users must ensure they use 
normalized paths according to the logic of the file system. FileIO should 
detect and reject any non-normalized paths, at least the ones where the 
normalized version significantly alters the path (not something like a simple 
trailing slash).
   
   As you pointed out, `s3://bucket/a/b/c` is not a normalization of 
`s3://bucket/a/b//c`. They are two separate paths (both already normalized 
actually). However, for most file systems,`file:///files/` is a normalization 
of `file:///my/../files/`. FileIO should reject the latter path.
   
   I think it is worth to point out that absolute paths have the same 
constraints as relative paths:
   
   ```suggestion
   Prior to v4, all path fields must contain absolute paths. Starting with v4, 
path fields may contain either absolute or relative paths. Paths (relative or 
absolute) must not include symbols which the underlying file system interprets 
as directives (e.g. `.` or `..` in local file systems). It is up to the file 
system implementation to reject these paths.
   ```
   
   
   
   
   
   
   



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