FileSystemEntry
===============

The **`FileSystemEntry`** interface of the File and Directory Entries API represents a single entry in a file system. The entry can be a file or a directory (directories are represented by the `FileSystemDirectoryEntry` interface). It includes methods for working with files—including copying, moving, removing, and reading files—as well as information about a file it points to—including the file name and its path from the root to the entry.

Basic concepts
--------------

You don't create `FileSystemEntry` objects directly. Instead, you will receive an object based on this interface through other APIs. This interface serves as a base class for the `FileSystemFileEntry` and `FileSystemDirectoryEntry` interfaces, which provide features specific to file system entries representing files and directories, respectively.

The `FileSystemEntry` interface includes methods that you would expect for manipulating files and directories, but it also includes a convenient method for obtaining the URL of the entry: `toURL()`. It also introduces a new URL scheme: `filesystem:`.

You can use the `filesystem:` scheme on Google Chrome to see all the files and folders that are stored in the origin of your app. Just use `filesystem:` scheme for the root directory of the origin of the app. For example, if your app is in `http://www.example.com`, open `filesystem:http://www.example.com/temporary/` in a tab. Chrome shows a read-only list of all the files and folders stored the origin of your app.

### Example

To see an example of how `toURL()` works, see the method description. The snippet below shows you how you can remove a file by name.


```js
// Taking care of the browser-specific prefixes.
window.requestFileSystem =
  window.requestFileSystem || window.webkitRequestFileSystem;

// …

// Opening a file system with temporary storage
window.requestFileSystem(
  TEMPORARY,
  1024 \* 1024 /\*1MB\*/,
  (fs) => {
    fs.root.getFile(
      "log.txt",
      {},
      (fileEntry) => {
        fileEntry.remove(() => {
          console.log("File removed.");
        }, onError);
      },
      onError,
    );
  },
  onError,
);
```

Instance properties
-------------------

*This interface provides the following properties.*

`filesystem` Read only 

A `FileSystem` object representing the file system in which the entry is located.

`fullPath` Read only 

A string object which provides the full, absolute path from the file system's root to the entry; it can also be thought of as a path which is relative to the root directory, prepended with a "/" character.

`isDirectory` Read only 

A boolean value which is `true` if the entry represents a directory; otherwise, it's `false`.

`isFile` Read only 

A Boolean which is `true` if the entry represents a file. If it's not a file, this value is `false`.

`name` Read only 

A string containing the name of the entry (the final part of the path, after the last "/" character).

Instance methods
----------------

*This interface defines the following methods.*

`copyTo()` 
Deprecated

Non-standard

Copies the file or directory to a new location on the file system.

`getMetadata()` 
Deprecated

Non-standard

Obtains metadata about the file, such as its modification date and size.

`getParent()`

Returns a `FileSystemDirectoryEntry` representing the entry's parent directory.

`moveTo()` 
Deprecated

Non-standard

Moves the file or directory to a new location on the file system, or renames the file or directory.

`remove()` 
Deprecated

Non-standard

Removes the specified file or directory. You can only remove directories which are empty.

`toURL()` 
Deprecated

Non-standard

Creates and returns a URL which identifies the entry. This URL uses the URL scheme `"filesystem:"`.

Specifications
--------------

| Specification |
| --- |
| File and Directory Entries API # api-entry |

Browser compatibility
---------------------

BCD tables only load in the browser with JavaScript enabled. Enable JavaScript to view data.

See also
--------

* File and Directory Entries API
* Introduction to the File and Directory Entries API
* `FileSystemFileEntry` and `FileSystemDirectoryEntry` are based on `FileSystemEntry`.