Struct std::fs::File

pub struct File { /* fields omitted */ }

A reference to an open file on the filesystem.

An instance of a File can be read and/or written depending on what options it was opened with. Files also implement Seek to alter the logical cursor that the file contains internally.

Files are automatically closed when they go out of scope. Errors detected on closing are ignored by the implementation of Drop. Use the method sync_all if these errors must be manually handled.

Examples

Creates a new file and write bytes to it:

use std::fs::File;
use std::io::prelude::*;

fn main() -> std::io::Result<()> {
    let mut file = File::create("foo.txt")?;
    file.write_all(b"Hello, world!")?;
    Ok(())
}

Read the contents of a file into a String:

use std::fs::File;
use std::io::prelude::*;

fn main() -> std::io::Result<()> {
    let mut file = File::open("foo.txt")?;
    let mut contents = String::new();
    file.read_to_string(&mut contents)?;
    assert_eq!(contents, "Hello, world!");
    Ok(())
}

It can be more efficient to read the contents of a file with a buffered Reader. This can be accomplished with BufReader<R>:

use std::fs::File;
use std::io::BufReader;
use std::io::prelude::*;

fn main() -> std::io::Result<()> {
    let file = File::open("foo.txt")?;
    let mut buf_reader = BufReader::new(file);
    let mut contents = String::new();
    buf_reader.read_to_string(&mut contents)?;
    assert_eq!(contents, "Hello, world!");
    Ok(())
}

Note that, although read and write methods require a &mut File, because of the interfaces for Read and Write, the holder of a &File can still modify the file, either through methods that take &File or by retrieving the underlying OS object and modifying the file that way. Additionally, many operating systems allow concurrent modification of files by different processes. Avoid assuming that holding a &File means that the file will not change.

Methods

impl File

pub fn open<P: AsRef<Path>>(path: P) -> Result<File>

Attempts to open a file in read-only mode.

See the OpenOptions::open method for more details.

Errors

This function will return an error if path does not already exist. Other errors may also be returned according to OpenOptions::open.

Examples

use std::fs::File;

fn main() -> std::io::Result<()> {
    let mut f = File::open("foo.txt")?;
    Ok(())
}

pub fn create<P: AsRef<Path>>(path: P) -> Result<File>

Opens a file in write-only mode.

This function will create a file if it does not exist, and will truncate it if it does.

See the OpenOptions::open function for more details.

Examples

use std::fs::File;

fn main() -> std::io::Result<()> {
    let mut f = File::create("foo.txt")?;
    Ok(())
}

pub fn sync_all(&self) -> Result<()>

Attempts to sync all OS-internal metadata to disk.

This function will attempt to ensure that all in-memory data reaches the filesystem before returning.

This can be used to handle errors that would otherwise only be caught when the File is closed. Dropping a file will ignore errors in synchronizing this in-memory data.

Examples

use std::fs::File;
use std::io::prelude::*;

fn main() -> std::io::Result<()> {
    let mut f = File::create("foo.txt")?;
    f.write_all(b"Hello, world!")?;

    f.sync_all()?;
    Ok(())
}

pub fn sync_data(&self) -> Result<()>

This function is similar to sync_all, except that it may not synchronize file metadata to the filesystem.

This is intended for use cases that must synchronize content, but don't need the metadata on disk. The goal of this method is to reduce disk operations.

Note that some platforms may simply implement this in terms of sync_all.

Examples

use std::fs::File;
use std::io::prelude::*;

fn main() -> std::io::Result<()> {
    let mut f = File::create("foo.txt")?;
    f.write_all(b"Hello, world!")?;

    f.sync_data()?;
    Ok(())
}

pub fn set_len(&self, size: u64) -> Result<()>

Truncates or extends the underlying file, updating the size of this file to become size.

If the size is less than the current file's size, then the file will be shrunk. If it is greater than the current file's size, then the file will be extended to size and have all of the intermediate data filled in with 0s.

The file's cursor isn't changed. In particular, if the cursor was at the end and the file is shrunk using this operation, the cursor will now be past the end.

Errors

This function will return an error if the file is not opened for writing.

Examples

use std::fs::File;

fn main() -> std::io::Result<()> {
    let mut f = File::create("foo.txt")?;
    f.set_len(10)?;
    Ok(())
}

Note that this method alters the content of the underlying file, even though it takes &self rather than &mut self.

pub fn metadata(&self) -> Result<Metadata>

Queries metadata about the underlying file.

Examples

use std::fs::File;

fn main() -> std::io::Result<()> {
    let mut f = File::open("foo.txt")?;
    let metadata = f.metadata()?;
    Ok(())
}

pub fn try_clone(&self) -> Result<File>

Creates a new File instance that shares the same underlying file handle as the existing File instance. Reads, writes, and seeks will affect both File instances simultaneously.

Examples

Creates two handles for a file named foo.txt:

use std::fs::File;

fn main() -> std::io::Result<()> {
    let mut file = File::open("foo.txt")?;
    let file_copy = file.try_clone()?;
    Ok(())
}

Assuming there’s a file named foo.txt with contents abcdef\n, create two handles, seek one of them, and read the remaining bytes from the other handle:

use std::fs::File;
use std::io::SeekFrom;
use std::io::prelude::*;

fn main() -> std::io::Result<()> {
    let mut file = File::open("foo.txt")?;
    let mut file_copy = file.try_clone()?;

    file.seek(SeekFrom::Start(3))?;

    let mut contents = vec![];
    file_copy.read_to_end(&mut contents)?;
    assert_eq!(contents, b"def\n");
    Ok(())
}

pub fn set_permissions(&self, perm: Permissions) -> Result<()>

Changes the permissions on the underlying file.

Platform-specific behavior

This function currently corresponds to the fchmod function on Unix and the SetFileInformationByHandle function on Windows. Note that, this may change in the future.

Errors

This function will return an error if the user lacks permission change attributes on the underlying file. It may also return an error in other os-specific unspecified cases.

Examples

fn main() -> std::io::Result<()> {
    use std::fs::File;

    let file = File::open("foo.txt")?;
    let mut perms = file.metadata()?.permissions();
    perms.set_readonly(true);
    file.set_permissions(perms)?;
    Ok(())
}

Note that this method alters the permissions of the underlying file, even though it takes &self rather than &mut self.

Trait Implementations

impl Read for File

fn read(&mut self, buf: &mut [u8]) -> Result<usize>

Pull some bytes from this source into the specified buffer, returning how many bytes were read.

fn read_vectored(&mut self, bufs: &mut [IoSliceMut]) -> Result<usize>

Like read, except that it reads into a slice of buffers.

unsafe fn initializer(&self) -> Initializer

🔬 This is a nightly-only experimental API. (read_initializer #42788)

Determines if this Reader can work with buffers of uninitialized memory.

fn read_to_end(&mut self, buf: &mut Vec<u8>) -> Result<usize>

Read all bytes until EOF in this source, placing them into buf.

fn read_to_string(&mut self, buf: &mut String) -> Result<usize>

Read all bytes until EOF in this source, appending them to buf.

fn read_exact(&mut self, buf: &mut [u8]) -> Result<()>

Read the exact number of bytes required to fill buf.

Important traits for &'_ mut F

impl<'_, F> Future for &'_ mut F where
    F: Unpin + Future + ?Sized,  type Output = <F as Future>::Output;impl<'_, I> Iterator for &'_ mut I where
    I: Iterator + ?Sized,  type Item = <I as Iterator>::Item;impl<'_, R: Read + ?Sized> Read for &'_ mut Rimpl<'_, W: Write + ?Sized> Write for &'_ mut W

fn by_ref(&mut self) -> &mut Self where
    Self: Sized, 

Creates a "by reference" adaptor for this instance of Read.

Important traits for Bytes<R>

impl<R: Read> Iterator for Bytes<R> type Item = Result<u8>;

fn bytes(self) -> Bytes<Self> where
    Self: Sized, 

Transforms this Read instance to an [Iterator] over its bytes.

Important traits for Chain<T, U>

impl<T: Read, U: Read> Read for Chain<T, U>

fn chain<R: Read>(self, next: R) -> Chain<Self, R> where
    Self: Sized, 

Creates an adaptor which will chain this stream with another.

Important traits for Take<T>

impl<T: Read> Read for Take<T>

fn take(self, limit: u64) -> Take<Self> where
    Self: Sized, 

Creates an adaptor which will read at most limit bytes from it.

impl<'_> Read for &'_ File

fn read(&mut self, buf: &mut [u8]) -> Result<usize>

Pull some bytes from this source into the specified buffer, returning how many bytes were read.

fn read_vectored(&mut self, bufs: &mut [IoSliceMut]) -> Result<usize>

Like read, except that it reads into a slice of buffers.

unsafe fn initializer(&self) -> Initializer

🔬 This is a nightly-only experimental API. (read_initializer #42788)

Determines if this Reader can work with buffers of uninitialized memory.

fn read_to_end(&mut self, buf: &mut Vec<u8>) -> Result<usize>

Read all bytes until EOF in this source, placing them into buf.

fn read_to_string(&mut self, buf: &mut String) -> Result<usize>

Read all bytes until EOF in this source, appending them to buf.

fn read_exact(&mut self, buf: &mut [u8]) -> Result<()>

Read the exact number of bytes required to fill buf.

Important traits for &'_ mut F

impl<'_, F> Future for &'_ mut F where
    F: Unpin + Future + ?Sized,  type Output = <F as Future>::Output;impl<'_, I> Iterator for &'_ mut I where
    I: Iterator + ?Sized,  type Item = <I as Iterator>::Item;impl<'_, R: Read + ?Sized> Read for &'_ mut Rimpl<'_, W: Write + ?Sized> Write for &'_ mut W

fn by_ref(&mut self) -> &mut Self where
    Self: Sized, 

Creates a "by reference" adaptor for this instance of Read.

Important traits for Bytes<R>

impl<R: Read> Iterator for Bytes<R> type Item = Result<u8>;

fn bytes(self) -> Bytes<Self> where
    Self: Sized, 

Transforms this Read instance to an [Iterator] over its bytes.

Important traits for Chain<T, U>

impl<T: Read, U: Read> Read for Chain<T, U>

fn chain<R: Read>(self, next: R) -> Chain<Self, R> where
    Self: Sized, 

Creates an adaptor which will chain this stream with another.

Important traits for Take<T>

impl<T: Read> Read for Take<T>

fn take(self, limit: u64) -> Take<Self> where
    Self: Sized, 

Creates an adaptor which will read at most limit bytes from it.

impl Write for File

fn write(&mut self, buf: &[u8]) -> Result<usize>

Write a buffer into this writer, returning how many bytes were written.

fn write_vectored(&mut self, bufs: &[IoSlice]) -> Result<usize>

Like write, except that it writes from a slice of buffers.

fn flush(&mut self) -> Result<()>

Flush this output stream, ensuring that all intermediately buffered contents reach their destination.

fn write_all(&mut self, buf: &[u8]) -> Result<()>

Attempts to write an entire buffer into this writer.

fn write_fmt(&mut self, fmt: Arguments) -> Result<()>

Writes a formatted string into this writer, returning any error encountered.

Important traits for &'_ mut F

impl<'_, F> Future for &'_ mut F where
    F: Unpin + Future + ?Sized,  type Output = <F as Future>::Output;impl<'_, I> Iterator for &'_ mut I where
    I: Iterator + ?Sized,  type Item = <I as Iterator>::Item;impl<'_, R: Read + ?Sized> Read for &'_ mut Rimpl<'_, W: Write + ?Sized> Write for &'_ mut W

fn by_ref(&mut self) -> &mut Self where
    Self: Sized, 

Creates a "by reference" adaptor for this instance of Write.

impl<'_> Write for &'_ File

fn write(&mut self, buf: &[u8]) -> Result<usize>

Write a buffer into this writer, returning how many bytes were written.

fn write_vectored(&mut self, bufs: &[IoSlice]) -> Result<usize>

Like write, except that it writes from a slice of buffers.

fn flush(&mut self) -> Result<()>

Flush this output stream, ensuring that all intermediately buffered contents reach their destination.

fn write_all(&mut self, buf: &[u8]) -> Result<()>

Attempts to write an entire buffer into this writer.

fn write_fmt(&mut self, fmt: Arguments) -> Result<()>

Writes a formatted string into this writer, returning any error encountered.

Important traits for &'_ mut F

impl<'_, F> Future for &'_ mut F where
    F: Unpin + Future + ?Sized,  type Output = <F as Future>::Output;impl<'_, I> Iterator for &'_ mut I where
    I: Iterator + ?Sized,  type Item = <I as Iterator>::Item;impl<'_, R: Read + ?Sized> Read for &'_ mut Rimpl<'_, W: Write + ?Sized> Write for &'_ mut W

fn by_ref(&mut self) -> &mut Self where
    Self: Sized, 

Creates a "by reference" adaptor for this instance of Write.

impl Seek for File

fn seek(&mut self, pos: SeekFrom) -> Result<u64>

Seek to an offset, in bytes, in a stream.

fn stream_len(&mut self) -> Result<u64>

🔬 This is a nightly-only experimental API. (seek_convenience #59359)

Returns the length of this stream (in bytes).

fn stream_position(&mut self) -> Result<u64>

🔬 This is a nightly-only experimental API. (seek_convenience #59359)

Returns the current seek position from the start of the stream.

impl<'_> Seek for &'_ File

fn seek(&mut self, pos: SeekFrom) -> Result<u64>

Seek to an offset, in bytes, in a stream.

fn stream_len(&mut self) -> Result<u64>

🔬 This is a nightly-only experimental API. (seek_convenience #59359)

Returns the length of this stream (in bytes).

fn stream_position(&mut self) -> Result<u64>

🔬 This is a nightly-only experimental API. (seek_convenience #59359)

Returns the current seek position from the start of the stream.

impl AsRawFd for File

fn as_raw_fd(&self) -> RawFd

This is supported on Unix only.

Extracts the raw file descriptor.

impl FromRawFd for File

Important traits for File

impl Read for Fileimpl<'_> Read for &'_ Fileimpl Write for Fileimpl<'_> Write for &'_ File

unsafe fn from_raw_fd(fd: RawFd) -> File

This is supported on Unix only.

Constructs a new instance of Self from the given raw file descriptor.

impl IntoRawFd for File

fn into_raw_fd(self) -> RawFd

This is supported on Unix only.

Consumes this object, returning the raw underlying file descriptor.

impl FileExt for File

fn read_at(&self, buf: &mut [u8], offset: u64) -> Result<usize>

This is supported on Unix only.

Reads a number of bytes starting from a given offset.

fn write_at(&self, buf: &[u8], offset: u64) -> Result<usize>

This is supported on Unix only.

Writes a number of bytes starting from a given offset.

fn read_exact_at(&self, buf: &mut [u8], offset: u64) -> Result<()>

This is supported on Unix only.

Reads the exact number of byte required to fill buf from the given offset.

fn write_all_at(&self, buf: &[u8], offset: u64) -> Result<()>

This is supported on Unix only.

Attempts to write an entire buffer starting from a given offset.

impl FileExt for File

fn seek_read(&self, buf: &mut [u8], offset: u64) -> Result<usize>

This is supported on Windows only.

Seeks to a given position and reads a number of bytes.

fn seek_write(&self, buf: &[u8], offset: u64) -> Result<usize>

This is supported on Windows only.

Seeks to a given position and writes a number of bytes.

impl AsRawHandle for File

fn as_raw_handle(&self) -> RawHandle

This is supported on Windows only.

Extracts the raw handle, without taking any ownership.

impl FromRawHandle for File

Important traits for File

impl Read for Fileimpl<'_> Read for &'_ Fileimpl Write for Fileimpl<'_> Write for &'_ File

unsafe fn from_raw_handle(handle: RawHandle) -> File

This is supported on Windows only.

Constructs a new I/O object from the specified raw handle.

impl IntoRawHandle for File

fn into_raw_handle(self) -> RawHandle

This is supported on Windows only.

Consumes this object, returning the raw underlying handle.

impl Debug for File

fn fmt(&self, f: &mut Formatter) -> Result

Formats the value using the given formatter.

impl From<File> for Stdio

fn from(file: File) -> Stdio

Converts a File into a Stdio

Examples

File will be converted to Stdio using Stdio::from under the hood.

use std::fs::File;
use std::process::Command;

// With the `foo.txt` file containing `Hello, world!"
let file = File::open("foo.txt").unwrap();

let reverse = Command::new("rev")
    .stdin(file)  // Implicit File conversion into a Stdio
    .output()
    .expect("failed reverse command");

assert_eq!(reverse.stdout, b"!dlrow ,olleH");