# fileExists(atPath:isDirectory:) Returns a Boolean value that indicates whether a file or directory exists at a specified path. ``` func fileExists(atPath path: String, isDirectory: UnsafeMutablePointer?) -> Bool ``` ## Parameters `path` The path of a file or directory. If `path` begins with a tilde (`~`), it must first be expanded with [`expandingTildeInPath`](/documentation/Foundation/NSString/expandingTildeInPath), or this method will return . `isDirectory` Upon return, contains if `path` is a directory or if the final path element is a symbolic link that points to a directory; otherwise, contains . If `path` doesn’t exist, this value is undefined upon return. Pass `NULL` if you do not need this information. ## Return Value if a file at the specified path exists, or if the file’s does not exist or its existence could not be determined. ## Discussion If the file at `path` is inaccessible to your app, perhaps because one or more parent directories are inaccessible, this method returns . If the final element in `path` specifies a symbolic link, this method traverses the link and returns or based on the existence of the file at the link destination. If you need to further determine whether `path` is a package, use the method of . The following example code gets an array that identifies the fonts in the user’s fonts directory: ```objc NSArray *subpaths; BOOL isDir; NSArray *paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains (NSLibraryDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES); if ([paths count] == 1) { NSFileManager *fileManager = [[NSFileManager alloc] init]; NSString *fontPath = [[paths objectAtIndex:0] stringByAppendingPathComponent:@"Fonts"]; if ([fileManager fileExistsAtPath:fontPath isDirectory:&isDir] && isDir) { subpaths = [fileManager subpathsAtPath:fontPath]; // ... ``` > Note: > Attempting to predicate behavior based on the current state of the file system or a particular file on the file system is not recommended. Doing so can cause odd behavior or race conditions. It’s far better to attempt an operation (such as loading a file or creating a directory), check for errors, and handle those errors gracefully than it is to try to figure out ahead of time whether the operation will succeed. For more information on file-system race conditions, see [Race Conditions and Secure File Operations](https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/Security/Conceptual/SecureCodingGuide/Articles/RaceConditions.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40002585) in [Secure Coding Guide](https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/Security/Conceptual/SecureCodingGuide/Introduction.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40002415). ## See Also [`checkResourceIsReachableAndReturnError(_:)`](/documentation/Foundation/NSURL/checkResourceIsReachableAndReturnError(_:)) Returns whether the resource pointed to by a file URL can be reached. --- Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)