# 5 simple ways to convert file to a string in java + bonus tech tip

Writing real world application code in java involves file and string processing. Some of the common use cases to convert a file to string are as follows.

1. Read a JSON file and parse content from it.
2. Read a CSV file for machine learning input data. 

There are numerous other use cases for this. So given the huge number of applications,  in this tutorial we will discuss 5 simple and handpicked ways to read or convert a file into a String in Java.
Depending upon your project configuration, you can use any of the following methods.   

# 1. Using Java 1.11+ inbuilt Files package: 
```java
import java.nio.file.Files;
import java.nio.file.Path;

String result = Files.readString(Path.of("filePath"));

//To Write string to a file you can use 
String content = "Demo Content";
Files.writeString(filePath, content);
```
This method works with Java 1.11+ 

# 2. Using Java 1.8+ inbuilt Streams package: 
```java
String result = new String(Files.readAllBytes(Paths.get(filePath)), StandardCharsets.UTF_8);
```
This method works with Java 1.8+ 

# 3. Native Java Scanner way:  
```java
try (Scanner scanner = new Scanner(Paths.get(fileName), StandardCharsets.UTF_8.name())) {
    String result = scanner.useDelimiter("\\A").next();   
} 
```
Note that "\\A" represents regex pattern for useDelimiter scanner method. 
"\A" stands for :start of a string! . So when this pattern is supplied, whole stream is ready into the scanner object.  

# 4. Apache commons-io IOUtils way: 
```java
File file = new File("data.txt");
String result = FileUtils.readFileToString(file, StandardCharsets.UTF_8);
```
For this method, Apache commons-io library should be included into your project. You can include it with this <a href="https://mvnrepository.com/artifact/commons-io/commons-io/2.6" target="_blank">maven link</a>

# 5. Using Google Guava library:
```java
String result = Files.toString(new File(path), Charsets.UTF_8);
```
For this method, Guava library should be included into your project. You can include it with this <a href="https://mvnrepository.com/artifact/com.google.guava/guava/r09" target="_blank">maven link</a>

If you want to play around with actual InputStreams without any utility methods you can use the above style. 

What's next: [How to read or convert an inputstream into a string in java](https://tipseason.com/how-to-read-convert-an-inputstream-into-a-string-in-java/)

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If you feel there are any other better ways to convert the streams or if you have any questions please comment below.

As a bonus here is a simple tech tip to increase your productivity. 

%[https://twitter.com/thetipseason/status/1536744912971919360]