# Quickly create, use and delete temporary directories
[](https://packagist.org/packages/spatie/temporary-directory)

[](LICENSE.md)
[](https://packagist.org/packages/spatie/temporary-directory)
This package allows you to quickly create, use and delete a temporary directory in the system's temporary directory.
Here's a quick example on how to create a temporary directory and delete it:
```php
use Spatie\TemporaryDirectory\TemporaryDirectory;
$temporaryDirectory = (new TemporaryDirectory())->create();
// Get a path inside the temporary directory
$temporaryDirectory->path('temporaryfile.txt');
// Delete the temporary directory and all the files inside it
$temporaryDirectory->delete();
```
## Support us
[<img src="https://github-ads.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/temporary-directory.jpg?t=1" width="419px" />](https://spatie.be/github-ad-click/temporary-directory)
We invest a lot of resources into creating [best in class open source packages](https://spatie.be/open-source). You can support us by [buying one of our paid products](https://spatie.be/open-source/support-us).
We highly appreciate you sending us a postcard from your hometown, mentioning which of our package(s) you are using. You'll find our address on [our contact page](https://spatie.be/about-us). We publish all received postcards on [our virtual postcard wall](https://spatie.be/open-source/postcards).
## Installation
You can install the package via composer:
```bash
composer require spatie/temporary-directory
```
## Usage
### Creating a temporary directory
To create a temporary directory simply call the `create` method on a `TemporaryDirectory` object. By default the temporary directory will be created in a timestamped directory in your system's temporary directory (usually `/tmp`).
```php
(new TemporaryDirectory())->create();
```
### Naming your temporary directory
If you want to use a custom name for your temporary directory instead of the timestamp call the `name` method with a string `$name` argument before the `create` method.
```php
(new TemporaryDirectory())
->name($name)
->create();
```
By default an exception will be thrown if a directory already exists with the given argument. You can override this behaviour by calling the `force` method in combination with the `name` method.
```php
(new TemporaryDirectory())
->name($name)
->force()
->create();
```
### Setting a custom location for a temporary directory
You can set a custom location in which your temporary directory will be created by passing a string `$location` argument to the `TemporaryDirectory` constructor.
```php
(new TemporaryDirectory($location))
->create();
```
Optionally you can call the `location` method with a `$location` argument.
```php
(new TemporaryDirectory())
->location($location)
->create();
```
### Determining paths within the temporary directory
You can use the `path` method to determine the full path to a file or directory in the temporary directory:
```php
$temporaryDirectory = (new TemporaryDirectory())->create();
$temporaryDirectory->path('dumps/datadump.dat'); // return /tmp/1485941876276/dumps/datadump.dat
```
### Emptying a temporary directory
Use the `empty` method to delete all the files inside the temporary directory.
```php
$temporaryDirectory->empty();
```
### Deleting a temporary directory
Once you're done processing your temporary data you can delete the entire temporary directory using the `delete` method. All files inside of it will be deleted.
```php
$temporaryDirectory->delete();
```
## Changelog
Please see [CHANGELOG](CHANGELOG.md) for more information on what has changed recently.
## Testing
``` bash
composer test
```
## Contributing
Please see [CONTRIBUTING](.github/CONTRIBUTING.md) for details.
## Security
If you discover any security related issues, please email freek@spatie.be instead of using the issue tracker.
## Postcardware
You're free to use this package, but if it makes it to your production environment we highly appreciate you sending us a postcard from your hometown, mentioning which of our package(s) you are using.
Our address is: Spatie, Kruikstraat 22, 2018 Antwerp, Belgium.
We publish all received postcards [on our company website](https://spatie.be/en/opensource/postcards).
## Credits
- [Alex Vanderbist](https://github.com/AlexVanderbist)
- [All Contributors](../../contributors)
## License
The MIT License (MIT). Please see [License File](LICENSE.md) for more information.