Java - File listFiles() method

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Description

The Java File listFiles() method returns the array of abstract pathnames defining the files in the directory denoted by this abstract pathname.

Declaration

Following is the declaration for java.io.File.listFiles() method −

public File[] listFiles()

Parameters

NA

Return Value

The method returns an array of pathnames for files and directories in the directory denoted by this abstract pathname.

Exception

• SecurityException − If a security manager exists and its SecurityManager.checkRead(java.lang.String) method denies read access to the file

Example - Usage of File listFiles() method

The following example shows the usage of Java File listFiles() method.

We've created a filter class by implementing FilenameFilter class. We've created a File reference. Then we're creating a File Object using test directory which is present in the provided directory. Then we're getting the list of files present in the test directory using listFiles() method into a string array. Then this array is iterated to print the available files in the given directory.

FileDemo.java

package com.tutorialspoint;

import java.io.File;

public class FileDemo {
   public static void main(String[] args) {      
      File f = null;
      File[] paths;
            
      try {    
      
         // create new file
         f = new File("F:/test");
                                 
         // array of files and directory
         paths = f.listFiles();
            
         // for each file in the path array
         for(File path:paths) {
         
            // prints filename and directory name
            System.out.println(path.getName());
         }
         
      } catch(Exception e) {
         // if any error occurs
         e.printStackTrace();
      }
   }
}

Output

Let us compile and run the above program, this will produce the following result−

test.pptx
test.txt
Test1.txt

Example - Usage of File listFiles() method

The following example shows the usage of Java File listFiles() method. We've created a File reference. Then we're creating a File Object using current directory where we're running this program using ".". Then we're getting the list of files present in the current directory using listFiles() method into a File array. Then this array is iterated to print the available file/directory names in the given directory.

FileDemo.java

package com.tutorialspoint;

import java.io.File;

public class FileDemo {
   public static void main(String[] args) {      
      File f = null;
      File[] paths;
            
      try {    
      
         // create new file
         f = new File(".");
                                 
         // array of files and directory
         paths = f.listFiles();
            
         // for each file in the path array
         for(File path:paths) {
         
            // prints filename and directory name
            System.out.println(path.getName());
         }
         
      } catch(Exception e) {
         // if any error occurs
         e.printStackTrace();
      }
   }
}

Output

Let us compile and run the above program, this will produce the following result−

.classpath
.project
.settings
app.log
bin
properties.txt
properties.xml
src
test.txt

Example - Usage of File listFiles() method

The following example shows the usage of Java File listFiles() method. We've created a File reference. Then we're creating a File Object using test3 directory which is not present in the provided directory. Then we're getting the list of files present in the test directory using listFiles() method into a File array. Then this array is iterated to print the available files in the given directory. As folder is not present, array will be null and we're printing a message - "Files are not present".

FileDemo.java

package com.tutorialspoint;

import java.io.File;

public class FileDemo {
   public static void main(String[] args) {      
      File f = null;
      File[] paths;

      try {    

         // create new file
         f = new File("F:/Test3");
		 
         // array of files and directory
         paths = f.listFiles();

         if(paths != null) {
            // for each name in the path array
            for(File path:paths) {

               // prints filename and directory name
               System.out.println(path.getName());
            }
         }else {
            System.out.println("Files are not present");
         }
      } catch(Exception e) {
         // if any error occurs
         e.printStackTrace();
      }
   }
}

Output

Let us compile and run the above program, this will produce the following result−

Files are not present