Java - File equals() Method



Description

The Java File equals(File pathname) method method tests this abstract pathname for equality with the object as argument. Whether the two abstract pathnames are either equal or not depends on the operating system.

Declaration

Following is the declaration for java.io.File.equals(Object obj) method −

public boolean equals(Object obj)

Parameters

obj − The object to be compared to the abstract pathname

Return Value

The method boolean true, if and only if the objects are the same; else false.

Exception

NA

Example 1

The following example shows the usage of Java File equals() method. We've created two File references. Then we're creating these File Objects using test.txt and test1.txt file. Using equals() method, we're comparing the paths of the same file lexicographically and printing the result. Then we're comparing two different files and printing the result.

package com.tutorialspoint;
import java.io.File;
public class FileDemo {
   public static void main(String[] args) {      
      File f = null;
      File f1 = null;
      boolean bool = false;
      
      try {
         // create new files
         f = new File("test.txt");
         f1 = new File("test1.txt");
         
         // returns boolean
         bool = f.equals(f);
         
         // prints
         System.out.println("Equal: "+bool);
         
         // returns boolean
         bool = f.equals(f1);
         
         // prints
         System.out.print("Equal: "+bool);
         
      } catch(Exception e) {
         // if any error occurs
         e.printStackTrace();
      }
   }
}

Output

Let us compile and run the above program, this will produce the following result − assuming that we're having a test.txt and test1.txt file at the given location.

Equal: true

Example 2

The following example shows the usage of Java File equals() method. We've created two File references. Then we're creating these File Objects using test.txt and test1.txt file. Using equals() method, we're comparing two different files and printing the result.

package com.tutorialspoint;
import java.io.File;
public class FileDemo {
   public static void main(String[] args) {      
      File f = null;
      File f1 = null;
      boolean bool = false;
      
      try {
         // create new files
         f = new File("test.txt");
         f1 = new File("test1.txt");
         
         // returns boolean
         bool = f.equals(f);
         
         // prints
         System.out.println("Equal: "+bool);
         
         // returns boolean
         bool = f.equals(f1);
         
         // prints
         System.out.print("Equal: "+bool);
         
      } catch(Exception e) {
         // if any error occurs
         e.printStackTrace();
      }
   }
}

Output

Let us compile and run the above program, this will produce the following result − assuming that we're having a test.txt and test1.txt file at the given location.

Equal: false
java_file_class.htm
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