C# Program to Delete an Empty and a Non-Empty Directory

Given a directory(empty or non-empty), now we have to delete the given directory. Here, an empty directory means the directory is present without any files or subdirectories. We can define a directory as a collection of files and subdirectories, a directory may have data or not contain no data. The non-empty directory means the directory with files or subdirectories. We can delete the directory by using the Delete() method of the Directory class. This method is overloaded in two different ways:

• Delete(String)
• Delete(String, Boolean)

Let's discuss them one by one.

Delete(String)

This method is used to delete an empty directory from a given path or location.

Syntax:

public static void Delete (string Mypath);

Where Mypath is the location of the given directory that we want to remove and the type of this parameter is a string.

Exceptions:

It can have the following exceptions

• IOException: This exception occurs when a file with the same name and location given by Mypath exists. Or the directory is read-only.
• UnauthorizedAccessException: This exception will occur when the caller does not have the specified permission.
• ArgumentNullException: This exception will occur when the Mypath is null.
• PathTooLongException: This exception will occur when the given Mypath, file name, or both exceed the system-defined maximum length. 
• DirectoryNotFoundException: This exception will occur when the Mypath does not exist or could not be found. Or the given path is invalid.

Example 1:

Let us consider an empty directory named "sravan" in the D drive. Now using Delete(String) method we delete the "sravan" directory.

Output:

Deleted

Example 2:

Let us consider a non-empty directory named "vignan" with a file named "test" in the D drive. Now using Delete(String) method we will delete the "vignan" directory.

Output:

Deleted

Delete(String, Boolean)

This method is used to delete the given directory and if indicated, any subdirectories and files in the directory.

Syntax:

public static void Delete (string Mypath, bool recursive);

Where Mypath is the directory path and recursive is used to remove files, directories, etc if it is true. Otherwise false.

Exceptions:

It can have the following exceptions

• IOException: This exception occurs when a file with the same name and location specified by Mypath exists. Or the directory is read-only.
• UnauthorizedAccessException: This exception will occur when the caller does not have the required permission.
• ArgumentNullException: This exception will occur when the Mypath is null.
• PathTooLongException: This exception will occur when the specified Mypath, file name, or both exceed the system-defined maximum length.
• DirectoryNotFoundException: This exception will occur when the Mypath does not exist or could not be found.

Example 1:

Let us consider an empty directory named "vignan" in the D drive. Now using Delete(String, Boolean) method we will delete the "vignan" directory.

Output:

Deleted

Example 2:

Let us consider a non-empty directory named "sravan" with a file named "test" in the D drive. Now using Delete(String, Boolean) method we will delete the "sravan" directory.

Output:

Deleted