Java check if a file exists [How To]

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In this tutorial, we will learn how to check if a file exists or a directory exists at a given path in Java.

1. Java Check if file exists with File.exists() method

To check if a file or directory exists, use the exists() method of the java.io.File class, as shown below:

File file = new File("c:/sample.txt");
boolean exists = file.exists()

If above method returns true then file or directory exist otherwise it does not exist. Below code shows how to use File.exists() method

package com.kodehelp.javaio;

import java.io.File;
import java.io.FileNotFoundException;

/**
 * Created by https://kodehelp.com Date: 3/18/12
 */
public class CheckIfFileExists {
    public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {

        File file = new File("c:/sample.txt");

        System.out.println("File = " + file.getAbsolutePath());
        if (!file.exists()) {
            System.out.println("Sample.txt file does not exist!!!");
            throw new FileNotFoundException("Sample.txt file does not exist!!!");
        } else {
            System.out.println("Sample.txt file exist!!!");
        }
    }
}

2. Files.exists() and Files.notExists() methods

Java NIO also provides good ways to test whether a file exists or not. Use Files.exists() method or Files.notExists() method for this.

package com.kodehelp.java.io;

import java.io.IOException;
import java.nio.file.Files;
import java.nio.file.Path;

public class CheckFileExists {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        try {
            final Path path = Files.createTempFile("Sample", ".txt");
            boolean exists = Files.exists(path); //true
            System.out.println(exists);
            boolean notExists = Files.notExists(path);  //false
            System.out.println(notExists);
        } catch (IOException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }
}