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package java.nio.file;

import java.nio.file.attribute.BasicFileAttributes;
import java.io.IOException;

A visitor of files. An implementation of this interface is provided to the Files.walkFileTree methods to visit each file in a file tree.

Usage Examples: Suppose we want to delete a file tree. In that case, each directory should be deleted after the entries in the directory are deleted.

    Path start = ...
    Files.walkFileTree(start, new SimpleFileVisitor<Path>() {
        @Override
        public FileVisitResult visitFile(Path file, BasicFileAttributes attrs)
            throws IOException
        {
            Files.delete(file);
            return FileVisitResult.CONTINUE;
        }
        @Override
        public FileVisitResult postVisitDirectory(Path dir, IOException e)
            throws IOException
        {
            if (e == null) {
                Files.delete(dir);
                return FileVisitResult.CONTINUE;
            } else {
                // directory iteration failed
                throw e;
            }
        }
    });

Furthermore, suppose we want to copy a file tree to a target location. In that case, symbolic links should be followed and the target directory should be created before the entries in the directory are copied.

    final Path source = ...
    final Path target = ...
    Files.walkFileTree(source, EnumSet.of(FileVisitOption.FOLLOW_LINKS), Integer.MAX_VALUE,
        new SimpleFileVisitor<Path>() {
            @Override
            public FileVisitResult preVisitDirectory(Path dir, BasicFileAttributes attrs)
                throws IOException
            {
                Path targetdir = target.resolve(source.relativize(dir));
                try {
                    Files.copy(dir, targetdir);
                } catch (FileAlreadyExistsException e) {
                     if (!Files.isDirectory(targetdir))
                         throw e;
                }
                return CONTINUE;
            }
            @Override
            public FileVisitResult visitFile(Path file, BasicFileAttributes attrs)
                throws IOException
            {
                Files.copy(file, target.resolve(source.relativize(file)));
                return CONTINUE;
            }
        });
Since:1.7
/** * A visitor of files. An implementation of this interface is provided to the * {@link Files#walkFileTree Files.walkFileTree} methods to visit each file in * a file tree. * * <p> <b>Usage Examples:</b> * Suppose we want to delete a file tree. In that case, each directory should * be deleted after the entries in the directory are deleted. * <pre> * Path start = ... * Files.walkFileTree(start, new SimpleFileVisitor&lt;Path&gt;() { * &#64;Override * public FileVisitResult visitFile(Path file, BasicFileAttributes attrs) * throws IOException * { * Files.delete(file); * return FileVisitResult.CONTINUE; * } * &#64;Override * public FileVisitResult postVisitDirectory(Path dir, IOException e) * throws IOException * { * if (e == null) { * Files.delete(dir); * return FileVisitResult.CONTINUE; * } else { * // directory iteration failed * throw e; * } * } * }); * </pre> * <p> Furthermore, suppose we want to copy a file tree to a target location. * In that case, symbolic links should be followed and the target directory * should be created before the entries in the directory are copied. * <pre> * final Path source = ... * final Path target = ... * * Files.walkFileTree(source, EnumSet.of(FileVisitOption.FOLLOW_LINKS), Integer.MAX_VALUE, * new SimpleFileVisitor&lt;Path&gt;() { * &#64;Override * public FileVisitResult preVisitDirectory(Path dir, BasicFileAttributes attrs) * throws IOException * { * Path targetdir = target.resolve(source.relativize(dir)); * try { * Files.copy(dir, targetdir); * } catch (FileAlreadyExistsException e) { * if (!Files.isDirectory(targetdir)) * throw e; * } * return CONTINUE; * } * &#64;Override * public FileVisitResult visitFile(Path file, BasicFileAttributes attrs) * throws IOException * { * Files.copy(file, target.resolve(source.relativize(file))); * return CONTINUE; * } * }); * </pre> * * @since 1.7 */
public interface FileVisitor<T> {
Invoked for a directory before entries in the directory are visited.

If this method returns CONTINUE, then entries in the directory are visited. If this method returns SKIP_SUBTREE or SKIP_SIBLINGS then entries in the directory (and any descendants) will not be visited.

Params:
  • dir – a reference to the directory
  • attrs – the directory's basic attributes
Throws:
Returns: the visit result
/** * Invoked for a directory before entries in the directory are visited. * * <p> If this method returns {@link FileVisitResult#CONTINUE CONTINUE}, * then entries in the directory are visited. If this method returns {@link * FileVisitResult#SKIP_SUBTREE SKIP_SUBTREE} or {@link * FileVisitResult#SKIP_SIBLINGS SKIP_SIBLINGS} then entries in the * directory (and any descendants) will not be visited. * * @param dir * a reference to the directory * @param attrs * the directory's basic attributes * * @return the visit result * * @throws IOException * if an I/O error occurs */
FileVisitResult preVisitDirectory(T dir, BasicFileAttributes attrs) throws IOException;
Invoked for a file in a directory.
Params:
  • file – a reference to the file
  • attrs – the file's basic attributes
Throws:
Returns: the visit result
/** * Invoked for a file in a directory. * * @param file * a reference to the file * @param attrs * the file's basic attributes * * @return the visit result * * @throws IOException * if an I/O error occurs */
FileVisitResult visitFile(T file, BasicFileAttributes attrs) throws IOException;
Invoked for a file that could not be visited. This method is invoked if the file's attributes could not be read, the file is a directory that could not be opened, and other reasons.
Params:
  • file – a reference to the file
  • exc – the I/O exception that prevented the file from being visited
Throws:
Returns: the visit result
/** * Invoked for a file that could not be visited. This method is invoked * if the file's attributes could not be read, the file is a directory * that could not be opened, and other reasons. * * @param file * a reference to the file * @param exc * the I/O exception that prevented the file from being visited * * @return the visit result * * @throws IOException * if an I/O error occurs */
FileVisitResult visitFileFailed(T file, IOException exc) throws IOException;
Invoked for a directory after entries in the directory, and all of their descendants, have been visited. This method is also invoked when iteration of the directory completes prematurely (by a visitFile method returning SKIP_SIBLINGS, or an I/O error when iterating over the directory).
Params:
  • dir – a reference to the directory
  • exc – null if the iteration of the directory completes without an error; otherwise the I/O exception that caused the iteration of the directory to complete prematurely
Throws:
Returns: the visit result
/** * Invoked for a directory after entries in the directory, and all of their * descendants, have been visited. This method is also invoked when iteration * of the directory completes prematurely (by a {@link #visitFile visitFile} * method returning {@link FileVisitResult#SKIP_SIBLINGS SKIP_SIBLINGS}, * or an I/O error when iterating over the directory). * * @param dir * a reference to the directory * @param exc * {@code null} if the iteration of the directory completes without * an error; otherwise the I/O exception that caused the iteration * of the directory to complete prematurely * * @return the visit result * * @throws IOException * if an I/O error occurs */
FileVisitResult postVisitDirectory(T dir, IOException exc) throws IOException; }