Network Paths with Directory Iterators

Can directory_iterator be used with network paths?

Yes, std::filesystem::directory_iterator can be used with network paths. Network paths, also known as UNC (Universal Naming Convention) paths in Windows, can be iterated similarly to local file system paths.

To use a network path with std::filesystem::directory_iterator, you need to provide the UNC path as a string to the iterator. Here's an example:

#include <filesystem>
#include <iostream>

namespace fs = std::filesystem;

int main() {
  fs::directory_iterator start{
    R"(\\server\share\directory)"};  
  fs::directory_iterator end{};

  for (auto iter{start}; iter != end; ++iter) {
    std::cout << iter->path().string() << '\n';
  }
}
\\server\share\directory\file1.txt
\\server\share\directory\file2.txt
\\server\share\directory\subdirectory

Key Considerations:

  • Permissions: Ensure you have the necessary permissions to access the network path. Lack of permissions can result in exceptions or failed iterations.
  • Performance: Network latency can affect the performance of directory iteration. Unlike local file systems, network paths can introduce delays due to network traffic.
  • Availability: Network resources need to be available and the network path should be reachable. If the network resource is down, the iterator might fail to initialize or iterate.

Using std::filesystem::directory_iterator with network paths is straightforward, but keep these considerations in mind to handle any potential issues effectively.

Directory Iterators

An introduction to iterating through the file system, using directory_iterator and recursive_directory_iterator.

Questions & Answers

Answers are generated by AI models and may not have been reviewed. Be mindful when running any code on your device.

Filter Directory Entries
How do I filter the directory entries to only show files?
Handling Missing Directories with directory_iterator
What happens if the directory path does not exist when creating a directory_iterator?
Skip Files or Directories using directory_iterator
How can I skip certain files or directories during iteration?
Sort Directory Entries
Is it possible to sort the directory entries while iterating?
Handle Symbolic Links During Directory Iteration
How do I handle symbolic links when using directory_iterator?
Get File Attributes During Directory Iteration
Can I use directory_iterator to get file attributes?
Stop Directory Iteration Early
How can I stop the iteration prematurely when using directory_iterator?
Count Files in Directory
How can I count the number of files in a directory?
Use Directory Iterator with Multithreading
How can I combine directory_iterator with multithreading?
Use Relative Paths with Directory Iterator
Can directory_iterator be used with relative paths?
Iterate Multiple Directories
How do I iterate over multiple directories in one loop?
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