# StepContext.scratch_dir
URL: https://lsd.tools/docs/api-context-scratch-dir
Updated: 2026-07-17

## Example

```python
tmp = os.path.join(ctx.scratch_dir, "chunk.bin")
```

## Notes

Created lazily on first access — under `output_dir/_scratch` when a workspace exists, otherwise a
system tempdir. It is **not** persisted with the project; use
[`output_dir`](/docs/api-context-output-dir) for durable artifacts.

## See also

**API:** [output_dir](/docs/api-context-output-dir) · [StepContext](/docs/api-context)

**Guides:** [Parameters vs ports](/docs/tools-params-ports)