MSDN Documentation - Windows API Reference

CreateDirectory

BOOL CreateDirectory(
  _In_opt_ LPCTSTR lpPathName,
  _In_opt_ LPSECURITY_ATTRIBUTES lpAttribute
);

The CreateDirectory function creates a new directory. If the underlying file system supports security on files and directories, the function allows you to specify the security attributes for the new directory.

Parameters

  • lpPathName [In, Optional]

    A pointer to a null-terminated string that specifies the path of the directory to be created. This parameter can be an absolute or relative path. If the last operator in the path is a directory separator, the function succeeds. For example, "C:\Temp\" creates the directory "Temp" if "C:\" exists.

    This parameter can be NULL or an empty string.

  • lpAttribute [In, Optional]

    A pointer to a SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES structure that specifies the security attributes for the directory. If this parameter is NULL, the directory receives default security attributes.

Return Value

If the function succeeds, the return value is nonzero. If the function fails, the return value is zero. To get extended error information, call GetLastError.

Remarks

If the directory being created already exists, the function succeeds and returns nonzero.

The maximum path length for CreateDirectory is MAX_PATH characters. To specify a longer path, use the CreateDirectoryEx function.

The lpPathName parameter can specify a UNC path.

Requirements

  • SDK: Included in Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, and later operating systems.
  • Header: Declared in windows.h
  • Library: Use Kernel32.lib
  • DLL: Kernel32.dll

See Also

CreateDirectoryEx

RemoveDirectory

SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES

GetLastError

Example Code

#include <windows.h>
#include <iostream>

int main() {
  LPCTSTR dirPath = L"C:\\MyNewFolder";

  if (CreateDirectory(dirPath, NULL)) {
    std::wcout << "Directory created successfully: " << dirPath << std::endl;
  } else {
    DWORD error = GetLastError();
    if (error == ERROR_ALREADY_EXISTS) {
      std::wcout << "Directory already exists: " << dirPath << std::endl;
    } else {
      std::wcerr << "Error creating directory. Error code: " << error << std::endl;
    }
  }

  return 0;
}