How to Check or Delete Directory in Java?

[Rob Dizzle]

I have just started some basic things of I/O in Java programming language. I have not understood the methods for checking or deleting the files or directories. So thought that you guys will explain me much better. I am talking about the cases which are related to the I/O (input/output) of java.io package. So please tell me how to Check or Delete Directory in Java.?? Expecting some good help sooner.!!

[Deabelos]

You can use the checkAccess(AccessMode) method, if you want to verify that a file exists and that the program can access it as needed. The varargs argument can be any combination of the following AccessMode options :

1. Read - This option can be used for checking that the file exists and that the program has permission to read the file.
2. Write - By using this option you can check that the file exists and that the program has permission to write to the file.
3. Execute - This option checks that the file exists and that the program has permission to execute the file.

[MELTRONICS]

I have provided you with the sample of coding that explains to verify the particular file exists and that the program has the ability to execute the file. The code I have used is for the Path which is a file and not a directory. Just look at the coding :

import static java.nio.file.AccessMode.*;
  
Path file = ...;
try {
    file.checkAccess(READ, EXECUTE);
} catch (IOException x) {
    return;
}

[absolute55]

You can also check whether two paths locate the same file. You will have to use the isSameFile(Path) method that can compare two paths to determine if they locate the same file on the file system. For doing that you can use the following sample of the code :

Path pa1 = ...;
Path pa2 = ...;

try {
    if (pa1.isSameFile(pa2)) {
    }
} catch (IOException x) {
    return;
}

[Praetor]

You can delete files, directories or links. You must keep in mind while deleting the symbolic links, the link is deleted and not the target of the link. Two deletion methods are provided by the Path class :

• delete
• deleteIfExists

The delete method deletes the file or throws an exception if the deletion fails. While the deleteIfExists method also deletes the file, but if the file does not exist, no exception is thrown.

[Allan.d]

I think that catching an exception is always useful. If you want to catch the exception to determine why the delete failed, you will have to write the code as below :

try {
    path.delete();
} catch (NoFileException x) {
    System.err.format("%s: no mentioned file or directory%n", path);
} catch (DirectoryNotEmptyException x) {
    System.err.format("%s not empty%n", path);
} catch (IOException x) {
    System.err.println(x);
}