Kaybangz
The difference between File.Move() and FileInfo.MoveTo() for renaming files.
I was asked to write about when and why to use File.Move() vs FileInfo.MoveTo() for renaming files. This is what I came up with, but was told that the part in bold is incorrect. I would like to know if anyone can point me to any resource that would help me come up with the correct answer.
One vital thing to consider when choosing between the two methods is whether or not we are moving the file to a different drive. When moving a file to a new location on the same drive, the operating system only needs to update the file's location pointer. However, when moving a file to a different drive, the operating system requires a copy-and-delete operation to ensure compatibility with the new file system. This is a complex operation, that is prone to errors.
The File.Move() method is designed to handle the copy and delete operation robustly and reliably. This is accomplished by employing various techniques, including retrying the operation if it fails and handling errors gracefully.
On the other hand, the FileInfo.MoveTo() method is designed to efficiently handle the simple operation of updating the file's location pointer. It does this by avoiding unnecessary operations, such as copying the file to a temporary location.
In general, we should use the File.Move() when moving a file to a different drive or volume, and FileInfo.MoveTo() when moving a file to a new location on the same drive.
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