std::experimental::filesystem::exists

Header: <experimental/filesystem>

Checks if the given file status or path corresponds to an existing file or directory.

# Declarations

bool exists( file_status s )

(filesystem TS)

bool exists( const path& p );
bool exists( const path& p, error_code& ec )

(filesystem TS)

# Parameters

# Return value

true if the given path or file status corresponds to an existing file or directory, false otherwise.

# Notes

The information provided by this function is usually also provided as a byproduct of directory iteration. During directory iteration, calling exists(*iterator) is less efficient than exists(iterator->status()).

# Example

#include <cstdint>
#include <experimental/filesystem>
#include <fstream>
#include <iostream>
namespace fs = std::experimental::filesystem;
 
void demo_exists(const fs::path& p, fs::file_status s = fs::file_status{})
{
    std::cout << p;
    if (fs::status_known(s) ? fs::exists(s) : fs::exists(p))
        std::cout << " exists\n";
    else
        std::cout << " does not exist\n";
}
 
int main()
{
    fs::create_directory("sandbox");
    std::ofstream("sandbox/file"); // create regular file
    fs::create_symlink("non-existing", "sandbox/symlink");
 
    demo_exists("sandbox");
    for (auto it = fs::directory_iterator("sandbox"); it != fs::directory_iterator(); ++it)
        demo_exists(*it, it->status()); // use cached status from directory entry
    fs::remove_all("sandbox");
}

# See also