File

Inherits: Reference < Object

Type to handle file reading and writing operations.

Description

File type. This is used to permanently store data into the user device’s file system and to read from it. This can be used to store game save data or player configuration files, for example.

Here’s a sample on how to write and read from a file:

  1. func save(content):
  2. var file = File.new()
  3. file.open("user://save_game.dat", File.WRITE)
  4. file.store_string(content)
  5. file.close()
  6. func load():
  7. var file = File.new()
  8. file.open("user://save_game.dat", File.READ)
  9. var content = file.get_as_text()
  10. file.close()
  11. return content

In the example above, the file will be saved in the user data folder as specified in the Data paths documentation.

Note: To access project resources once exported, it is recommended to use ResourceLoader instead of the File API, as some files are converted to engine-specific formats and their original source files might not be present in the exported PCK package.

Tutorials

Properties

boolendian_swapfalse

Methods

voidclose ( )
booleof_reached ( ) const
boolfile_exists ( String path ) const
intget_16 ( ) const
intget_32 ( ) const
intget_64 ( ) const
intget_8 ( ) const
Stringget_as_text ( ) const
PoolByteArrayget_buffer ( int len ) const
PoolStringArrayget_csv_line ( String delim=”,” ) const
floatget_double ( ) const
Errorget_error ( ) const
floatget_float ( ) const
intget_len ( ) const
Stringget_line ( ) const
Stringget_md5 ( String path ) const
intget_modified_time ( String file ) const
Stringget_pascal_string ( )
Stringget_path ( ) const
Stringget_path_absolute ( ) const
intget_position ( ) const
floatget_real ( ) const
Stringget_sha256 ( String path ) const
Variantget_var ( bool allow_objects=false ) const
boolis_open ( ) const
Erroropen ( String path, ModeFlags flags )
Erroropen_compressed ( String path, ModeFlags mode_flags, CompressionMode compression_mode=0 )
Erroropen_encrypted ( String path, ModeFlags mode_flags, PoolByteArray key )
Erroropen_encrypted_with_pass ( String path, ModeFlags mode_flags, String pass )
voidseek ( int position )
voidseek_end ( int position=0 )
voidstore_16 ( int value )
voidstore_32 ( int value )
voidstore_64 ( int value )
voidstore_8 ( int value )
voidstore_buffer ( PoolByteArray buffer )
voidstore_csv_line ( PoolStringArray values, String delim=”,” )
voidstore_double ( float value )
voidstore_float ( float value )
voidstore_line ( String line )
voidstore_pascal_string ( String string )
voidstore_real ( float value )
voidstore_string ( String string )
voidstore_var ( Variant value, bool full_objects=false )

Enumerations

enum ModeFlags:

  • READ = 1 —- Opens the file for read operations. The cursor is positioned at the beginning of the file.
  • WRITE = 2 —- Opens the file for write operations. The file is created if it does not exist, and truncated if it does.
  • READ_WRITE = 3 —- Opens the file for read and write operations. Does not truncate the file. The cursor is positioned at the beginning of the file.
  • WRITE_READ = 7 —- Opens the file for read and write operations. The file is created if it does not exist, and truncated if it does. The cursor is positioned at the beginning of the file.

enum CompressionMode:

  • COMPRESSION_FASTLZ = 0 —- Uses the FastLZ compression method.
  • COMPRESSION_DEFLATE = 1 —- Uses the DEFLATE compression method.
  • COMPRESSION_ZSTD = 2 —- Uses the Zstandard compression method.
  • COMPRESSION_GZIP = 3 —- Uses the gzip compression method.

Property Descriptions

Defaultfalse
Setterset_endian_swap(value)
Getterget_endian_swap()

If true, the file’s endianness is swapped. Use this if you’re dealing with files written on big-endian machines.

Note: This is about the file format, not CPU type. This is always reset to false whenever you open the file.

Method Descriptions

  • void close ( )

Closes the currently opened file.


  • bool eof_reached ( ) const

Returns true if the file cursor has read past the end of the file.

Note: This function will still return false while at the end of the file and only activates when reading past it. This can be confusing but it conforms to how low-level file access works in all operating systems. There is always get_len and get_position to implement a custom logic.


Returns true if the file exists in the given path.

Note: Many resources types are imported (e.g. textures or sound files), and their source asset will not be included in the exported game, as only the imported version is used. See ResourceLoader.exists for an alternative approach that takes resource remapping into account.


  • int get_16 ( ) const

Returns the next 16 bits from the file as an integer. See store_16 for details on what values can be stored and retrieved this way.


  • int get_32 ( ) const

Returns the next 32 bits from the file as an integer. See store_32 for details on what values can be stored and retrieved this way.


  • int get_64 ( ) const

Returns the next 64 bits from the file as an integer. See store_64 for details on what values can be stored and retrieved this way.


  • int get_8 ( ) const

Returns the next 8 bits from the file as an integer. See store_8 for details on what values can be stored and retrieved this way.


Returns the whole file as a String.

Text is interpreted as being UTF-8 encoded.


Returns next len bytes of the file as a PoolByteArray.


Returns the next value of the file in CSV (Comma-Separated Values) format. You can pass a different delimiter delim to use other than the default "," (comma). This delimiter must be one-character long.

Text is interpreted as being UTF-8 encoded.


  • float get_double ( ) const

Returns the next 64 bits from the file as a floating-point number.


  • Error get_error ( ) const

Returns the last error that happened when trying to perform operations. Compare with the ERR_FILE_* constants from Error.


  • float get_float ( ) const

Returns the next 32 bits from the file as a floating-point number.


  • int get_len ( ) const

Returns the size of the file in bytes.


Returns the next line of the file as a String.

Text is interpreted as being UTF-8 encoded.


Returns an MD5 String representing the file at the given path or an empty String on failure.


Returns the last time the file was modified in unix timestamp format or returns a String “ERROR IN file“. This unix timestamp can be converted to datetime by using OS.get_datetime_from_unix_time.


Returns a String saved in Pascal format from the file.

Text is interpreted as being UTF-8 encoded.


Returns the path as a String for the current open file.


  • String get_path_absolute ( ) const

Returns the absolute path as a String for the current open file.


  • int get_position ( ) const

Returns the file cursor’s position.


  • float get_real ( ) const

Returns the next bits from the file as a floating-point number.


Returns a SHA-256 String representing the file at the given path or an empty String on failure.


Returns the next Variant value from the file. If allow_objects is true, decoding objects is allowed.

Warning: Deserialized objects can contain code which gets executed. Do not use this option if the serialized object comes from untrusted sources to avoid potential security threats such as remote code execution.


  • bool is_open ( ) const

Returns true if the file is currently opened.


Opens the file for writing or reading, depending on the flags.


Opens a compressed file for reading or writing.


Opens an encrypted file in write or read mode. You need to pass a binary key to encrypt/decrypt it.

Note: The provided key must be 32 bytes long.


Opens an encrypted file in write or read mode. You need to pass a password to encrypt/decrypt it.


  • void seek ( int position )

Changes the file reading/writing cursor to the specified position (in bytes from the beginning of the file).


  • void seek_end ( int position=0 )

Changes the file reading/writing cursor to the specified position (in bytes from the end of the file).

Note: This is an offset, so you should use negative numbers or the cursor will be at the end of the file.


  • void store_16 ( int value )

Stores an integer as 16 bits in the file.

Note: The value should lie in the interval [0, 2^16 - 1]. Any other value will overflow and wrap around.

To store a signed integer, use store_64 or store a signed integer from the interval [-2^15, 2^15 - 1] (i.e. keeping one bit for the signedness) and compute its sign manually when reading. For example:

  1. const MAX_15B = 1 << 15
  2. const MAX_16B = 1 << 16
  3. func unsigned16_to_signed(unsigned):
  4. return (unsigned + MAX_15B) % MAX_16B - MAX_15B
  5. func _ready():
  6. var f = File.new()
  7. f.open("user://file.dat", File.WRITE_READ)
  8. f.store_16(-42) # This wraps around and stores 65494 (2^16 - 42).
  9. f.store_16(121) # In bounds, will store 121.
  10. f.seek(0) # Go back to start to read the stored value.
  11. var read1 = f.get_16() # 65494
  12. var read2 = f.get_16() # 121
  13. var converted1 = unsigned16_to_signed(read1) # -42
  14. var converted2 = unsigned16_to_signed(read2) # 121

  • void store_32 ( int value )

Stores an integer as 32 bits in the file.

Note: The value should lie in the interval [0, 2^32 - 1]. Any other value will overflow and wrap around.

To store a signed integer, use store_64, or convert it manually (see store_16 for an example).


  • void store_64 ( int value )

Stores an integer as 64 bits in the file.

Note: The value must lie in the interval [-2^63, 2^63 - 1] (i.e. be a valid int value).


  • void store_8 ( int value )

Stores an integer as 8 bits in the file.

Note: The value should lie in the interval [0, 255]. Any other value will overflow and wrap around.

To store a signed integer, use store_64, or convert it manually (see store_16 for an example).


Stores the given array of bytes in the file.


Store the given PoolStringArray in the file as a line formatted in the CSV (Comma-Separated Values) format. You can pass a different delimiter delim to use other than the default "," (comma). This delimiter must be one-character long.

Text will be encoded as UTF-8.


  • void store_double ( float value )

Stores a floating-point number as 64 bits in the file.


  • void store_float ( float value )

Stores a floating-point number as 32 bits in the file.


  • void store_line ( String line )

Appends line to the file followed by a line return character (\n), encoding the text as UTF-8.


  • void store_pascal_string ( String string )

Stores the given String as a line in the file in Pascal format (i.e. also store the length of the string).

Text will be encoded as UTF-8.


  • void store_real ( float value )

Stores a floating-point number in the file.


  • void store_string ( String string )

Appends string to the file without a line return, encoding the text as UTF-8.


  • void store_var ( Variant value, bool full_objects=false )

Stores any Variant value in the file. If full_objects is true, encoding objects is allowed (and can potentially include code).