File Management API Reference
This section provides comprehensive documentation for the Windows API functions related to file management operations. These APIs allow applications to interact with the file system, manage files and directories, and perform various storage-related tasks.
Core File Operations
These functions provide fundamental capabilities for working with files:
CreateFile: Creates or opens a file or device.ReadFile: Reads data from a file or device.WriteFile: Writes data to a file or device.CloseHandle: Closes an open object handle.DeleteFile: Deletes a file.CopyFile: Copies an existing file to a new file.MoveFile: Moves an existing file or directory.
Directory Management
Functions for managing directories and their contents:
CreateDirectory: Creates a new directory.RemoveDirectory: Removes an existing directory.FindFirstFile/FindNextFile: Retrieves information about files in a directory.GetFileAttributes: Retrieves attributes for a specified file or directory.SetFileAttributes: Sets the attributes for a specified file or directory.
File I/O Advanced Features
Explore more advanced file I/O functionalities:
ReadFileEx/WriteFileEx: Asynchronous read and write operations.SetFilePointer: Moves the file pointer.LockFile: Locks a region of a file.UnlockFile: Unlocks a region of a file.
Special File System Operations
Accessing specific file system features:
| Function | Description |
|---|---|
GetLogicalDrives |
Retrieves a bitmask of all the logical drives available on the system. |
GetVolumeInformation |
Retrieves information about a file system and the file system volume. |
GetDiskFreeSpace |
Retrieves information about the specified disk, including the amount of free space available. |
CreateHardLink |
Creates a hard link to an existing file. |
CreateSymbolicLink |
Creates a symbolic link to an existing file or directory. |
Further Reading
For a complete list of file management functions, please refer to the Windows API Index.