{"id":1217,"date":"2023-03-29T08:21:09","date_gmt":"2023-03-29T01:21:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/csharptutorial.net\/?page_id=1217"},"modified":"2023-03-29T08:22:19","modified_gmt":"2023-03-29T01:22:19","slug":"csharp-delete-file","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.csharptutorial.net\/csharp-file\/csharp-delete-file\/","title":{"rendered":"C# Delete File"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Summary<\/strong>: in this tutorial, you’ll learn how to use delete an existing file using the C# File.Delete<\/code>()<\/code> static method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduction to the C# File.Delete() method<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The File.Delete<\/code>()<\/code> static method allows you to delete a file specified by a path:<\/p>\n\n\n

public<\/span> static<\/span> void<\/span> Delete<\/span> (string<\/span> path<\/span>)<\/span>;<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> C#<\/span> (<\/span>cs<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
In this syntax, the path species is the name of the file to be deleted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Delete()<\/code> method raises an ArgumentException<\/code> if the path is a zero-length string and ArgumentNullException<\/code> if the path is null.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the file is in use, the Delete()<\/code> method raises an IOException<\/code>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Note that if the file does not exist, the File.Delete()<\/code> method will NOT raise any exception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
C# File.Delete() example<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The following program demonstrates how to delete the readme.txt<\/code> file from the C:\\tmp<\/code> directory:<\/p>\n\n\n
using<\/span> static<\/span> System.Console;\n\nstring<\/span> directory = @\"C:\\temp\"<\/span>;\nstring<\/span> filename = @\"readme1.txt\"<\/span>;\n\ntry<\/span>\n{\n    File.Delete(Path.Combine(directory, filename));\n}\ncatch<\/span> (IOException ex)\n{\n    WriteLine(ex.Message);\n}<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> C#<\/span> (<\/span>cs<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
How it works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, define two variables directory and filename to store the directory and name of the file to be deleted:<\/p>\n\n\n
string<\/span> directory = @\"C:\\temp\"<\/span>;\nstring<\/span> filename = @\"readme1.txt\"<\/span>;<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> C#<\/span> (<\/span>cs<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Second, delete the file using the File.Delete<\/code><\/code>()<\/code><\/code> method. We use the Path.Combine<\/code>()<\/code> method to combine the directory and filename and pass it to the File.Delete<\/code><\/code>()<\/code><\/code> method<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, we use the try...catch<\/a><\/code> block to handle any potential errors that may occur when deleting the file:<\/p>\n\n\n
try<\/span>\n{\n    File.Delete(Path.Combine(directory, filename));\n}\ncatch<\/span> (IOException ex)\n{\n    WriteLine(ex.Message);\n}<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> C#<\/span> (<\/span>cs<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
If an error occurs, the program writes the error message to the console using the WriteLine()<\/code> method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Deleting all files in a directory<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The following example demonstrates how to use the File.Delete<\/code>()<\/code> to delete all text files from the C:\\temp<\/code> directory:<\/p>\n\n\n
using<\/span> static<\/span> System.Console;\n\nstring<\/span> dir = @\"C:\\temp\"<\/span>;\n\nvar<\/span> filenames = Directory.GetFiles(dir,\"*.txt\"<\/span>);\nforeach<\/span> (var<\/span> filename in<\/span> filenames)\n{\n    WriteLine($\"Deleting file {filename}<\/span>\"<\/span>);\n    File.Delete(filename);\n}<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> C#<\/span> (<\/span>cs<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
How it works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, define a variable called dir<\/code> that stores the path to the directory:<\/p>\n\n\n
string<\/span> dir = @\"C:\\temp\"<\/span>;<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> C#<\/span> (<\/span>cs<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Second, get all text files from the dir directory using the Directory.GetFiles<\/code>()<\/code> method:<\/p>\n\n\n
var<\/span> filenames = Directory.GetFiles(dir,\"*.txt\"<\/span>);<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> C#<\/span> (<\/span>cs<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Third, iterate through the files and delete each of them using the File.Delete<\/code>()<\/code> method. Also, write a message to the console to indicate the file to be deleted:<\/p>\n\n\n
foreach<\/span> (var<\/span> filename in<\/span> filenames)\n{\n    WriteLine($\"Deleting file {filename}<\/span>\"<\/span>);\n    File.Delete(filename);\n}<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> C#<\/span> (<\/span>cs<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  • Use the File.Delete<\/code>()<\/code> method to delete a file.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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