Java - File lastModified() Method

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Description

The Java File lastModified()

Description

The java.io.File.lastModified() returns the last modified time of the file denoted by this abstract pathname.

Declaration

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

public long lastModified()

Parameters

NA

Return Value

The method returns the last modified time of the file 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 1

The following example shows the usage of Java File lastModified() method. We've created two File references. Then we're creating a File Object using test.txt which is not present in the current directory. Then we've created the file using createNewFile() method. Now using getAbsoluteFile() method, we're getting the file and checking the file modification date using lastModified() method and printing it.

package com.tutorialspoint;
import java.io.File;
import java.util.Date;
public class FileDemo {
   public static void main(String[] args) {      
      File f = null;
      File f1 = null;
      
      try {
         // create new files
         f = new File("test.txt");
         
         // create new file in the system
         f.createNewFile();
         
         // create new file object from the absolute path
         f1 = f.getAbsoluteFile();
         
         // prints the file last modified date
         System.out.print("file modification date: "+ new Date(f1.lastModified()));
         
      } catch(Exception e) {
         // if any error occurs
         e.printStackTrace();
      }
   }
}

Output

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

file modification date: Thu Apr 27 11:30:57 IST 2023

Example 2

The following example shows the usage of Java File lastModified() method. We've created a File reference. Then we're creating a File Object using F:/test.txt which is present in the provided directory but is hidden. Now using getAbsoluteFile() method, we're getting the file and printing file last modification date using lastModified() method.

package com.tutorialspoint;
import java.io.File;
import java.util.Date;
public class FileDemo {
   public static void main(String[] args) {      
      File f = null;
      
      try {
         // create new files
         f = new File("F:/test.txt");         
    
         // get the file
         File f1 = f.getAbsoluteFile();
         
         // prints the file last modified date
         System.out.print("file modification date: "+ new Date(f1.lastModified()));
         
      } catch(Exception e) {
         // if any error occurs
         e.printStackTrace();
      }
   }
}

Output

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

file modification date: Tue Apr 25 10:47:26 IST 2023

Example 3

The following example shows the usage of Java File isHidden() method. We've created a File reference. Then we're creating a File Object using F:/test directory which is present in the provided location and is not hidden. Now using getAbsoluteFile() method, we're getting the directory and its status using isHidden() method.

package com.tutorialspoint;
import java.io.File;
import java.util.Date;
public class FileDemo {
   public static void main(String[] args) {      
      File f = null;
      
      try {
         // create new files
         f = new File("F:/test");         
    
         // get the file
         File f1 = f.getAbsoluteFile();
         
         // prints the file last modified date
         System.out.print("file modification date: "+ new Date(f1.lastModified()));
         
      } catch(Exception e) {
         // if any error occurs
         e.printStackTrace();
      }
   }
}

Output

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

file modification date: Wed Apr 26 09:23:34 IST 2023