FileSystemDirectoryHandle

Baseline Widely available

This feature is well established and works across many devices and browser versions. It’s been available across browsers since March 2023.

Secure context: This feature is available only in secure contexts (HTTPS), in some or all supporting browsers.

Note: This feature is available in Web Workers.

The FileSystemDirectoryHandle interface of the File System API provides a handle to a file system directory.

The interface can be accessed via the window.showDirectoryPicker(), StorageManager.getDirectory(), DataTransferItem.getAsFileSystemHandle(), and FileSystemDirectoryHandle.getDirectoryHandle() methods.

FileSystemHandle FileSystemDirectoryHandle

Instance properties

Inherits properties from its parent, FileSystemHandle.

Instance methods

Inherits methods from its parent, FileSystemHandle.

Regular methods:

FileSystemDirectoryHandle.getDirectoryHandle()

Returns a Promise fulfilled with a FileSystemDirectoryHandle for a subdirectory with the specified name within the directory handle on which the method is called.

FileSystemDirectoryHandle.getFileHandle()

Returns a Promise fulfilled with a FileSystemFileHandle for a file with the specified name, within the directory the method is called.

FileSystemDirectoryHandle.removeEntry()

Attempts to asynchronously remove an entry if the directory handle contains a file or directory called the name specified.

FileSystemDirectoryHandle.resolve()

Returns a Promise fulfilled with an Array of directory names from the parent handle to the specified child entry, with the name of the child entry as the last array item.

Asynchronous iterator methods:

FileSystemDirectoryHandle.entries()

Returns a new async iterator of a given object's own enumerable property [key, value] pairs.

FileSystemDirectoryHandle.keys()

Returns a new async iterator containing the keys for each item in FileSystemDirectoryHandle.

FileSystemDirectoryHandle.values()

Returns a new async iterator containing the values for each index in the FileSystemDirectoryHandle object.

FileSystemDirectoryHandle[Symbol.asyncIterator]()

Returns a new async iterator of a given object's own enumerable property [key, value] pairs.

Examples

Return directory handle

The following example returns a directory handle with the specified name; if the directory does not already exist it is created.

js
const dirName = "directoryToGetName";

// assuming we have a directory handle: 'currentDirHandle'
const subDir = await currentDirHandle.getDirectoryHandle(dirName, {
  create: true,
});

Return file path

The following asynchronous function uses resolve() to find the path to a chosen file, relative to a specified directory handle.

js
async function returnPathDirectories(directoryHandle) {
  // Get a file handle by showing a file picker:
  const handle = await self.showOpenFilePicker();
  if (!handle) {
    // User cancelled, or otherwise failed to open a file.
    return;
  }

  // Check if handle exists inside our directory handle
  const relativePaths = await directoryHandle.resolve(handle);

  if (relativePaths === null) {
    // Not inside directory handle
  } else {
    // relativePath is an array of names, giving the relative path

    for (const name of relativePaths) {
      // log each entry
      console.log(name);
    }
  }
}

Return handles for all files in a directory

The following example scans recursively through a directory to return FileSystemFileHandle objects for each file in that directory:

js
async function* getFilesRecursively(entry) {
  if (entry.kind === "file") {
    const file = await entry.getFile();
    if (file !== null) {
      file.relativePath = getRelativePath(entry);
      yield file;
    }
  } else if (entry.kind === "directory") {
    for await (const handle of entry.values()) {
      yield* getFilesRecursively(handle);
    }
  }
}
for await (const fileHandle of getFilesRecursively(directoryHandle)) {
  console.log(fileHandle);
}

Specifications

Specification
File System
# api-filesystemdirectoryhandle

Browser compatibility

desktop mobile
Chrome
Edge
Firefox
Opera
Safari
Chrome Android
Firefox for Android
Opera Android
Safari on iOS
Samsung Internet
WebView Android
WebView on iOS
FileSystemDirectoryHandle
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 86 (Release date: 2020-10-20)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 86 (Release date: 2020-10-09)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 111 (Release date: 2023-03-14)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 72 (Release date: 2020-10-21)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 15.2 (Release date: 2021-12-13)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 109 (Release date: 2023-01-10)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 111 (Release date: 2023-03-14)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 74 (Release date: 2023-03-13)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 15.2 (Release date: 2021-12-13)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 21 (Release date: 2023-05-19)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 109 (Release date: 2023-01-10)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 15.2 (Release date: 2021-12-13)
footnote Full support
[Symbol.asyncIterator]
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 86 (Release date: 2020-10-20)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 86 (Release date: 2020-10-09)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 111 (Release date: 2023-03-14)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 72 (Release date: 2020-10-21)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 16.4 (Release date: 2023-03-27)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 109 (Release date: 2023-01-10)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 111 (Release date: 2023-03-14)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 74 (Release date: 2023-03-13)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 16.4 (Release date: 2023-03-27)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 21 (Release date: 2023-05-19)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 109 (Release date: 2023-01-10)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 16.4 (Release date: 2023-03-27)
footnote Full support
entries
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 86 (Release date: 2020-10-20)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 86 (Release date: 2020-10-09)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 111 (Release date: 2023-03-14)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 72 (Release date: 2020-10-21)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 15.2 (Release date: 2021-12-13)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 109 (Release date: 2023-01-10)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 111 (Release date: 2023-03-14)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 74 (Release date: 2023-03-13)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 15.2 (Release date: 2021-12-13)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 21 (Release date: 2023-05-19)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 109 (Release date: 2023-01-10)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 15.2 (Release date: 2021-12-13)
footnote Full support
getDirectoryHandle
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 86 (Release date: 2020-10-20)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 86 (Release date: 2020-10-09)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 111 (Release date: 2023-03-14)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 72 (Release date: 2020-10-21)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 15.2 (Release date: 2021-12-13)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 109 (Release date: 2023-01-10)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 111 (Release date: 2023-03-14)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 74 (Release date: 2023-03-13)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 15.2 (Release date: 2021-12-13)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 21 (Release date: 2023-05-19)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 109 (Release date: 2023-01-10)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 15.2 (Release date: 2021-12-13)
footnote Full support
getFileHandle
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 86 (Release date: 2020-10-20)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 86 (Release date: 2020-10-09)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 111 (Release date: 2023-03-14)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 72 (Release date: 2020-10-21)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 15.2 (Release date: 2021-12-13)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 109 (Release date: 2023-01-10)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 111 (Release date: 2023-03-14)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 74 (Release date: 2023-03-13)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 15.2 (Release date: 2021-12-13)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 21 (Release date: 2023-05-19)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 109 (Release date: 2023-01-10)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 15.2 (Release date: 2021-12-13)
footnote Full support
keys
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 86 (Release date: 2020-10-20)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 86 (Release date: 2020-10-09)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 111 (Release date: 2023-03-14)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 72 (Release date: 2020-10-21)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 15.2 (Release date: 2021-12-13)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 109 (Release date: 2023-01-10)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 111 (Release date: 2023-03-14)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 74 (Release date: 2023-03-13)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 15.2 (Release date: 2021-12-13)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 21 (Release date: 2023-05-19)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 109 (Release date: 2023-01-10)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 15.2 (Release date: 2021-12-13)
footnote Full support
removeEntry
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 86 (Release date: 2020-10-20)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 86 (Release date: 2020-10-09)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 111 (Release date: 2023-03-14)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 72 (Release date: 2020-10-21)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 15.2 (Release date: 2021-12-13)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 109 (Release date: 2023-01-10)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 111 (Release date: 2023-03-14)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 74 (Release date: 2023-03-13)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 15.2 (Release date: 2021-12-13)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 21 (Release date: 2023-05-19)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 109 (Release date: 2023-01-10)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 15.2 (Release date: 2021-12-13)
footnote Full support
resolve
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 86 (Release date: 2020-10-20)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 86 (Release date: 2020-10-09)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 111 (Release date: 2023-03-14)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 72 (Release date: 2020-10-21)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 15.2 (Release date: 2021-12-13)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 109 (Release date: 2023-01-10)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 111 (Release date: 2023-03-14)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 74 (Release date: 2023-03-13)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 15.2 (Release date: 2021-12-13)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 21 (Release date: 2023-05-19)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 109 (Release date: 2023-01-10)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 15.2 (Release date: 2021-12-13)
footnote Full support
values
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 86 (Release date: 2020-10-20)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 86 (Release date: 2020-10-09)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 111 (Release date: 2023-03-14)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 72 (Release date: 2020-10-21)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 15.2 (Release date: 2021-12-13)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 109 (Release date: 2023-01-10)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 111 (Release date: 2023-03-14)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 74 (Release date: 2023-03-13)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 15.2 (Release date: 2021-12-13)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 21 (Release date: 2023-05-19)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 109 (Release date: 2023-01-10)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 15.2 (Release date: 2021-12-13)
footnote Full support

Legend

Tip: you can click/tap on a cell for more information.

Full support
Full support

See also