How do you list hidden/system files in a directory?

Question

Utpal Vishwas · Answer

To list hidden and system files in a directory using C#, you can use
Directory.GetFiles() combined with checking the file attributes.
Here’s a simple example that lists all files marked as hidden or
system:
using System;
using System.IO;
public class FileAttributesExample
{
    public static void ListHiddenAndSystemFiles(string directoryPath)
    {
        var files = Directory.GetFiles(directoryPath);
        foreach (var file in files)
        {
            FileAttributes attributes = File.GetAttributes(file);
            bool isHidden = (attributes and FileAttributes.Hidden) == FileAttributes.Hidden;
            bool isSystem = (attributes and FileAttributes.System) == FileAttributes.System;
            if (isHidden || isSystem)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(file);
            }
        }
    }
}
Usage:
string path = @"C:\YourDirectory";
FileAttributesExample.ListHiddenAndSystemFiles(path);
Notes
This code lists files only (not directories). You can similarly check directories with
Directory.GetDirectories() and inspect attributes.Files can have multiple attributes set, so the bitwise AND check ensures you detect the correct flags.Hidden and system files are usually protected, so you may need sufficient permissions to access them.
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How do you list hidden/system files in a directory?

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Usage:

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