FileSystemEntity class abstract

The common superclass of File, Directory, and Link.

FileSystemEntity objects are returned from directory listing operations. To determine whether a FileSystemEntity is a File, a Directory, or a Link perform a type check:

if (entity is File) (entity as File).readAsStringSync();

You can also use the type or typeSync methods to determine the type of a file system object.

Most methods in this class exist both in synchronous and asynchronous versions, for example, exists and existsSync. Unless you have a specific reason for using the synchronous version of a method, prefer the asynchronous version to avoid blocking your program.

Here's the exists method in action:

var isThere = await entity.exists();
print(isThere ? 'exists' : 'nonexistent');

Other resources

The Files and directories section of the library tour.
Write Command-Line Apps, a tutorial about writing command-line apps, includes information about files and directories.

Implementers

Constructors

FileSystemEntity()

Properties

absolute → FileSystemEntity: A FileSystemEntity whose path is the absolute path of path.
read-only
hashCode → int: The hash code for this object.
read-onlyinherited
isAbsolute → bool: Whether this object's path is absolute.
read-only
parent → Directory: The parent directory of this entity.
read-only
path → String: read-only
runtimeType → Type: A representation of the runtime type of the object.
read-onlyinherited
uri → Uri: A Uri representing the file system entity's location.
read-only

Methods

delete({bool recursive = false}) → Future<FileSystemEntity>: Deletes this FileSystemEntity.
deleteSync({bool recursive = false}) → void: Synchronously deletes this FileSystemEntity.
exists() → Future<bool>: Checks whether the file system entity with this path exists.
existsSync() → bool: Synchronously checks whether the file system entity with this path exists.
noSuchMethod(Invocation invocation) → dynamic: Invoked when a nonexistent method or property is accessed.
inherited
rename(String newPath) → Future<FileSystemEntity>: Renames this file system entity.
renameSync(String newPath) → FileSystemEntity: Synchronously renames this file system entity.
resolveSymbolicLinks() → Future<String>: Resolves the path of a file system object relative to the current working directory.
resolveSymbolicLinksSync() → String: Resolves the path of a file system object relative to the current working directory.
stat() → Future<FileStat>: Calls the operating system's stat() function on path.
statSync() → FileStat: Synchronously calls the operating system's stat() function on path.
toString() → String: A string representation of this object.
inherited
watch({int events = FileSystemEvent.all, bool recursive = false}) → Stream<FileSystemEvent>: Start watching the FileSystemEntity for changes.

Operators

operator ==(Object other) → bool: The equality operator.
inherited

Static Properties

isWatchSupported → bool: Test if watch is supported on the current system.
read-only

Static Methods

identical(String path1, String path2) → Future<bool>: Checks whether two paths refer to the same object in the file system.
identicalSync(String path1, String path2) → bool: Synchronously checks whether two paths refer to the same object in the file system.
isDirectory(String path) → Future<bool>: Whether path refers to a directory.
isDirectorySync(String path) → bool: Synchronously checks whether path refers to a directory.
isFile(String path) → Future<bool>: Whether path refers to a file.
isFileSync(String path) → bool: Synchronously checks whether path refers to a file.
isLink(String path) → Future<bool>: Whether path refers to a link.
isLinkSync(String path) → bool: Synchronously checks whether path refers to a link.
parentOf(String path) → String: The parent path of a path.
type(String path, {bool followLinks = true}) → Future<FileSystemEntityType>: Finds the type of file system object that a path points to.
typeSync(String path, {bool followLinks = true}) → FileSystemEntityType: Synchronously finds the type of file system object that a path points to.