# Java: java.io.File

`java.io.File` is the central class in working with files and directories. Files and directories are both represented by File objects. When a File object is created, the system doesn't test to see if a corresponding file/directory actually exists; you must call `exists()` to check. See Example - FileTest.java.

## File Constructors and Methods

Assume

    boolean b;
    String s;
    String path;     // Relative or absolute path.
    String dirpath;  // Relative or absolute path to a directory.
    String filename;
    File   f, dir;   // Assume f is a file, dir is a directory.
    long   l;
    File[] fa;      // Array of File objects.
    String[] sa;    // Array of file or directory names.

Constructors
`f =` | `new File(path);` | Create File object.
`f =` | `new File(dirpath, filename);` | Create File object.
`f =` | `new File(dir, filename);` | Create File object.
Getting Attributes
`b =` | `f.exists();` | true if file exists.
`b =` | `f.isFile();` | true if this is a normal file.
`b =` | `f.isDirectory();` | true if f is a directory.
`s =` | `f.getName();` | name of file or directory.
`b =` | `f.canRead();` | true if can read file.
`b =` | `f.canWrite();` | true if can write file.
`b =` | `f.setReadOnly();` | Make file read only.
`b =` | `f.isHidden();` | true if file is hidden.
`l =` | `f.lastModified();` | Time of last modification.
`l =` | `f.length();` | Number of bytes in file.
Setting Attributes
`` | `f.setLastModified(t);` | Sets last modified time to long value t.
Paths
`s =` | `f.getPath();` | path name.
`s =` | `f.getAbsolutePath();` | path name (how is it different from above?).
`s =` | `f.getCanonicalPath();` | path name. May throw IOException.
`s =` | `f.toURL();` | path with "file:" prefix and forward slashes. Directory paths will end with slash.
`s =` | `f.toURI();` | path with "file:" prefix and forward slashes. Directory paths will end with slash.
Creating and deleting files and directories
`b =` | `f.delete();` | Deletes the file.
`b =` | `f.createNewFile();` | Creates file, may throw IOException. true if successful; false if already exists.
`b =` | `f.renameTo(f2);` | Renames f to File f2. Returns true if successful.
`b =` | `f.mkdir();` | Creates a directory. Returns true if successful.
`b =` | `f.mkdirs();` | Creates directory and all dirs in path. Returns true if successful.
Parents and Children
`s =` | `f.getParent();` | Name of parent directory.
`dir =` | `f.getParentFile();` | File of parent.
`sa =` | `dir.list();` | Array of file/directory names in dir.
`fa =` | `dir.listFiles();` | Array of files/directories in dir.
`fa =` | `dir.listFiles(ff);` | As above after applying java.io.FileFilter ff.