15.16 File Operations

Functions operating on a list of files return the number of files successfully operated upon.

chmod list

Changes the permissions of a list of files. The first element of the list must be the numerical mode.

chown list

Changes the owner and group of a list of files. The first two elements of the list must be the numerical uid and gid.

truncate file, size

Truncates file to size. file may be a filename or a filehandle.

link oldfile, newfile

Creates a new filename linked to the old filename.

lstat file

Like stat, but does not traverse a final symbolic link.

mkdir dir, mode

Creates a directory with given permissions. Sets $! on failure.

readlink expr(dagger)

Returns the value of a symbolic link.

rename oldname, newname

Changes the name of a file.

rmdir filename(dagger)

Deletes the directory if it is empty. Sets $! on failure.

stat file

Returns a 13-element array (0:$dev, 1:$ino, 2:$mode, 3:$nlink, 4:$uid, 5:$gid, 6:$rdev, 7:$size, 8:$atime, 9:$mtime, 10:$ctime, 11:$blksize, 12:$blocks). file can be a filehandle, an expression evaluating to a filename, or _ to refer to the last file test operation or stat call. Returns a null list if the stat fails.

symlink oldfile, newfile

Creates a new filename symbolically linked to the old filename.

unlink list

Deletes a list of files.

utime list

Changes the access and modification times. The first two elements of the list must be the numerical access and modification times.