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
.