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FileSystemEntry: remove() method

Deprecated: This feature is no longer recommended. Though some browsers might still support it, it may have already been removed from the relevant web standards, may be in the process of being dropped, or may only be kept for compatibility purposes. Avoid using it, and update existing code if possible; see the compatibility table at the bottom of this page to guide your decision. Be aware that this feature may cease to work at any time.

Non-standard: This feature is non-standard and is not on a standards track. Do not use it on production sites facing the Web: it will not work for every user. There may also be large incompatibilities between implementations and the behavior may change in the future.

The FileSystemEntry interface's method remove() deletes the file or directory from the file system. Directories must be empty before they can be removed.

To recursively remove a directory as well as all of its contents and its subdirectories, call FileSystemDirectoryEntry.removeRecursively() instead.

Syntax

js

remove(successCallback)
remove(successCallback, errorCallback)

Parameters

successCallback

A function which is called once the file has been successfully removed.

errorCallback Optional

An optional callback which is called if the attempt to remove the file fails.

Return value

None (undefined).

Errors

FileError.INVALID_MODIFICATION_ERR

The specified entry was the file system's root directory, or the specified entry is a directory which isn't empty.

FileError.INVALID_STATE_ERR

The file system's cached state is inconsistent with its state on disk, so the file could not be deleted for safety reasons.

FileError.NO_MODIFICATION_ALLOWED_ERR

The file system's state doesn't permit removing the file or directory.

FileError.NOT_FOUND_ERR

The file or directory doesn't exist.

FileError.SECURITY_ERR

The entry couldn't be removed due to permissions or other access constraints, or because there are too many calls being made on file resources.

Examples

This example deletes a temporary work file.

js

workingDirectory.getFile(
  "tmp/workfile.json",
  {},
  (fileEntry) => {
    fileEntry.remove(() => {
      /* the file was removed successfully */
    });
  },
  handleError,
);

Browser compatibility

Desktop Mobile
Chrome Edge Firefox Internet Explorer Opera Safari WebView Android Chrome Android Firefox for Android Opera Android Safari on IOS Samsung Internet
remove 8 79 No No No No ≤37 18 No 14 No 1.0

See also

© 2005–2023 MDN contributors.
Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License v2.5 or later.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/FileSystemEntry/remove