Java File createNewFile() method with examples

1. Introduction

The createNewFile() method creates a new and empty file with specified name. This operation succeeded when the name does not yet exist. Checking for the existence of the file and creation of the file are atomic operations. Note that this method should not be used for file-locking.

2. Method signature

public boolean createNewFile() throws IOException

Parameters:

method does not take any parameter

Returns

true - if the file does not exists already and was created successfully

Throws

IOException - if any of I/O error occurred
SecurityException - when we do not have access to the file

3. Examples

3.1. Create a new file in the `/tmp` directory

package com.frontbackend.java.io.examples;

import java.io.File;

public class FrontBackend {

    public static void main(String args[]) {

        try {
            File f = new File("/tmp/frontbackend.txt");
            boolean status = f.createNewFile();

            if (status) {
                System.out.println("File successfully created");
            } else {
                System.out.println("File was not created");
            }

        } catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }
}

The output:

File successfully created

In case the file already exists, method f.createNewFile() will return false and we will get the following result:

The file was not created

3.2. Create a new file and check common parameters

package com.frontbackend.java.io.examples;

import java.io.File;

public class FrontBackend {

    public static void main(String args[]) {

        try {
            File f = new File("/tmp/frontbackend.txt");
            boolean status = f.createNewFile();

            if (status) {
                System.out.println("Exists: " + f.exists());
                System.out.println("Path: " + f.getPath());
                System.out.println("Can write: " + f.canWrite());
                System.out.println("Can read: " + f.canRead());
                System.out.println("Is directory: " + f.isDirectory());
                System.out.println("Is hidden: " + f.isHidden());
            }

        } catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }
}