Constructors of File Class in Java

The File class (java.io.File) is used to represent files and directories. A constructor is used to create a File object that points to a file or folder.

1. File(String pathname)
Syntax

File file = new File(String pathname);

Purpose
Creates a File object using a single path string.

Example

import java.io.File;
public class Demo {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        File file = new File("sample.txt");
        System.out.println(file.getPath());
    }
}

Output
sample.txt

Explanation
File file = new File("sample.txt");
Creates a File object named file.
Represents the file sample.txt.
The file is not created physically; only the object is created.

2. File(String parent, String child)
Syntax

File file = new File(parent, child);

Purpose
Creates a file by combining a parent directory and a child file name.

Example

import java.io.File;
public class Demo {
    public static void main(String[] args) {

        File file = new File("C:\\Users\\Priya", "sample.txt");

        System.out.println(file.getPath());
    }
}

Output
C:\Users\Priya\sample.txt

Explanation
"C:\Users\Priya"
→ Parent directory

"sample.txt"
→ Child file

Java combines both:
C:\Users\Priya\sample.txt

3. File(File parent, String child)
Syntax

File parent = new File("C:\\Users\\Priya");
File file = new File(parent, "sample.txt");

Purpose
Uses an existing File object as the parent directory.

Example

import java.io.File;
public class Demo {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        File parentFolder = new File("C:\\Users\\Priya");
        File file = new File(parentFolder, "sample.txt");
        System.out.println(file.getPath());
    }
}

Output
C:\Users\Priya\sample.txt

Explanation
Step 1:

File parentFolder = new File("C:\\Users\\Priya");

Creates a File object representing the folder.

Step 2:

File file = new File(parentFolder, "sample.txt");

Adds sample.txt inside that folder.

4. File(URI uri)
Syntax

File file = new File(URI uri);

Purpose
Creates a File object from a URI (Uniform Resource Identifier).

Example

import java.io.File;
import java.net.URI;

public class Demo {
    public static void main(String[] args) {

        URI uri = URI.create("file:///C:/Users/Priya/sample.txt");

        File file = new File(uri);

        System.out.println(file.getPath());
    }
}

Output

C:\Users\Priya\sample.txt

Explanation

URI uri = URI.create("file:///C:/Users/Priya/sample.txt");

Creates a URI object.
new File(uri);
Converts the URI into a File object.

Important Note

File file = new File("sample.txt");

does not create the actual file.
To create the file physically, use:

file.createNewFile();

Example:

import java.io.File;
import java.io.IOException;

public class Demo {
    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {

        File file = new File("sample.txt");

        file.createNewFile();

        System.out.println("File created");
    }
}

Output
File created

Thus, constructors create only the File object (abstract pathname), not the actual file itself.