File delete() method in Java with Examples

Last Updated : 11 Jul, 2025

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

// 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

// 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);  }  } }