Java provides a way to delete files using Java programs. Contrary to normal delete operations in any operating system, files deleted using java programs will be permanently deleted and will not be moved to the trash/recycle bin.

Following are the methods used to delete a file in Java:

1. Using java.io.File.delete() function: Deletes the file or directory denoted by this abstract pathname.

         Syntax:

public boolean delete()
Returns: true if and only if the file or 
directory is successfully deleted; false otherwise

// Java program to delete a file
import java.io.*;

public class Test
{
	public static void main(String[] args)
	{
		File file = new File("C:\\Users\\Mayank\\Desktop\\1.txt");
		
		if(file.delete())
		{
			System.out.println("File deleted successfully");
		}
		else
		{
			System.out.println("Failed to delete the file");
		}
	}
}

Output:

File deleted successfully

2. Using java.nio.file.files.deleteifexists(Path p) method defined in Files package:

If the file exists, this method will delete the file. Only when the directory is not empty, it will also delete the directories mentioned in the path.

Syntax:

public static boolean deleteIfExists(Path path) throws IOException
Parameters: path - the path to the file to delete
Returns: true if the file was deleted by this method; 
false if the file could not be deleted because it did not exist.
Throws: 
DirectoryNotEmptyException - if the file is a directory and 
could not otherwise be deleted because the directory is not empty
(optional specific exception)
IOException - if an I/O error occurs

// Java program to demonstrate delete using Files class
import java.io.IOException;
import java.nio.file.*;

public class Test
{
	public static void main(String[] args)
	{
		try
		{
			Files.deleteIfExists(Paths.get("C:\\Users\\Mayank\\Desktop\\
			445.txt"));
		}
		catch(NoSuchFileException e)
		{
			System.out.println("No such file/directory exists");
		}
		catch(DirectoryNotEmptyException e)
		{
			System.out.println("Directory is not empty.");
		}
		catch(IOException e)
		{
			System.out.println("Invalid permissions.");
		}
		
		System.out.println("Deletion successful.");
	}
}