Java - File listFiles() Method

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Description

The Java File listFiles() 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 1

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 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 File array. Then this array is iterated to print the available file names in the given directory.

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 2

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.

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 3

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 file names in the given directory. As folder is not present, array will be null and we're printing a message - "Files are not present".

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