Top 10 Best Practices for File Handling in Java [2025 Edition]

File handling is a core part of Java development, whether you’re reading configurations, writing logs, or processing large datasets. With the latest Java 21, file operations have become more efficient, secure, and easier to manage.

In this article, we’ll explore 10 best practices for handling files in Java 21, covering the latest APIs and improvements with clear explanations and practical examples.

1️⃣ Use Files.readString() and Files.writeString() for Simple File Operations

Why?

Instead of using BufferedReader or BufferedWriter, Java 11 introduced Files.readString() and Files.writeString() to simplify file reading and writing.

✅ Best Practice: Use Files.readString() and Files.writeString() when working with small files.

🔹 Example: Reading and Writing a File Easily

import java.nio.file.Files;
import java.nio.file.Path;
import java.io.IOException;

public class FileReadWriteExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {
        Path filePath = Path.of("example.txt");

        // ✅ Write to a file
        Files.writeString(filePath, "Hello, Java 21!");

        // ✅ Read from a file
        String content = Files.readString(filePath);
        System.out.println("File Content: " + content);
    }
}