SFTP Directory Operations

Manage directories on remote servers using SFTP

sftpLs()

Lists the files and directories in the specified path using SFTP.

Signature

sftpLs(path: string, callback?: CallbackFunction<LsResult[]>): Promise<LsResult[]>

Parameters

path · string · required

The path to list on the remote server.

callback · CallbackFunction<LsResult[]>

Optional callback function to handle the result asynchronously.

(error: any, response?: LsResult[]) => void

Returns

Promise · Promise<LsResult[]>

A promise that resolves to an array of LsResult objects representing the files and directories in the specified path.

LsResult Type

interface LsResult {
  filename: string;
  isDirectory: boolean;
  modificationDate: string;
  lastAccess: string;
  fileSize: number;
  ownerUserID: number;
  ownerGroupID: number;
  flags: number;
}

filename · string

The name of the file or directory.

isDirectory · boolean

Whether the item is a directory (true) or a file (false).

modificationDate · string

The last modification date of the file or directory.

lastAccess · string

The last access date of the file or directory.

fileSize · number

The size of the file in bytes. For directories, this may be 0 or the block size.

ownerUserID · number

The user ID of the file or directory owner.

ownerGroupID · number

The group ID of the file or directory owner.

flags · number

File permission flags.

Example

import SSHClient from '@dylankenneally/react-native-ssh-sftp';

// Using Promise
try {
  const files = await client.sftpLs('/home/user');
  files.forEach((file) => {
    console.log(`${file.isDirectory ? 'DIR' : 'FILE'}: ${file.filename}`);
    console.log(`  Size: ${file.fileSize} bytes`);
    console.log(`  Modified: ${file.modificationDate}`);
  });
} catch (error) {
  console.error('Failed to list directory:', error);
}

// Using callback
client.sftpLs('/home/user', (error, files) => {
  if (error) {
    console.error('Failed to list directory:', error);
    return;
  }
  files?.forEach((file) => {
    console.log(`${file.isDirectory ? 'DIR' : 'FILE'}: ${file.filename}`);
  });
});

// Filter only directories
const files = await client.sftpLs('/home/user');
const directories = files.filter((file) => file.isDirectory);
console.log('Directories:', directories.map((d) => d.filename));

---

sftpMkdir()

Creates a directory on the remote server using SFTP.

Signature

sftpMkdir(path: string, callback?: CallbackFunction<void>): Promise<void>

Parameters

path · string · required

The path of the directory to create on the remote server.

callback · CallbackFunction<void>

Optional callback function to handle the result.

(error: any, response?: void) => void

Returns

Promise · Promise<void>

A promise that resolves when the directory is created successfully, or rejects with an error if the operation fails.

Example

import SSHClient from '@dylankenneally/react-native-ssh-sftp';

// Using Promise
try {
  await client.sftpMkdir('/home/user/new-directory');
  console.log('Directory created successfully');
} catch (error) {
  console.error('Failed to create directory:', error);
}

// Using callback
client.sftpMkdir('/home/user/new-directory', (error) => {
  if (error) {
    console.error('Failed to create directory:', error);
    return;
  }
  console.log('Directory created successfully');
});

// Create nested directories (may require multiple calls)
async function createNestedDir(client: SSHClient, path: string) {
  const parts = path.split('/').filter(Boolean);
  let currentPath = '';
  
  for (const part of parts) {
    currentPath += '/' + part;
    try {
      await client.sftpMkdir(currentPath);
    } catch (error) {
      // Directory might already exist
      console.log(`Path ${currentPath} already exists or error:`, error);
    }
  }
}

await createNestedDir(client, '/home/user/path/to/nested/dir');

---

sftpRmdir()

Removes a directory on the remote server using SFTP.

The directory must be empty before it can be removed. If the directory contains files or subdirectories, the operation will fail.

Signature

sftpRmdir(path: string, callback?: CallbackFunction<void>): Promise<void>

Parameters

path · string · required

The path of the directory to remove on the remote server.

callback · CallbackFunction<void>

Optional callback function to handle the result or error.

(error: any, response?: void) => void

Returns

Promise · Promise<void>

A promise that resolves when the directory is successfully removed, or rejects with an error if the operation fails.

Example

import SSHClient from '@dylankenneally/react-native-ssh-sftp';

// Using Promise
try {
  await client.sftpRmdir('/home/user/empty-directory');
  console.log('Directory removed successfully');
} catch (error) {
  console.error('Failed to remove directory:', error);
}

// Using callback
client.sftpRmdir('/home/user/empty-directory', (error) => {
  if (error) {
    console.error('Failed to remove directory:', error);
    return;
  }
  console.log('Directory removed successfully');
});

// Remove directory with contents (recursive deletion)
async function removeDirectoryRecursive(
  client: SSHClient,
  path: string
): Promise<void> {
  const files = await client.sftpLs(path);
  
  // Remove all files and subdirectories first
  for (const file of files) {
    const fullPath = `${path}/${file.filename}`;
    
    if (file.isDirectory) {
      await removeDirectoryRecursive(client, fullPath);
    } else {
      await client.sftpRm(fullPath);
    }
  }
  
  // Remove the now-empty directory
  await client.sftpRmdir(path);
}

// Usage
try {
  await removeDirectoryRecursive(client, '/home/user/directory-with-files');
  console.log('Directory and all contents removed');
} catch (error) {
  console.error('Failed to remove directory:', error);
}