File delete() method in Java with Examples

The delete() function is a part of File class in Java . This function deletes an existing file or directory. If the file is deleted then the function returns true else returns false

Function signature:

public boolean delete()

Syntax:

boolean var = file.delete();

Parameters: This method does not accept any parameter.

Return Type: The function returns boolean data type representing whether the new file is deleted or not.

Exception: This method throws Security Exception: if the write access to the file is denied.

Below programs illustrates the use of delete() function:

Example 1: The file “F:\\program.txt” is a existing file in F: Directory.

// Java program to demonstrate
// delete() method of File Class

import java.io.*;

public class solution {
    public static void main(String args[])
    {

        try {

            // Get the file
            File f = new File("F:\\program.txt");

            // delete file
            if (f.delete())
                System.out.println("File deleted");
            else
                System.out.println("File was not deleted");
        }
        catch (Exception e) {
            System.err.println(e);
        }
    }
}

Output:

File deleted

Example 2: The file “F:\\program1.txt” does not exist

// Java program to demonstrate
// delete() method of File Class

import java.io.*;

public class solution {
    public static void main(String args[])
    {

        try {

            // Get the file
            File f = new File("F:\\program1.txt");

            // delete file
            if (f.delete())
                System.out.println("File deleted");
            else
                System.out.println("File was not deleted");
        }
        catch (Exception e) {
            System.err.println(e);
        }
    }
}

Output:

File was not deleted

Note: The programs might not run in an online IDE. Please use an offline IDE and set the path of the file.