just use File.getName()

File f = new File("C:\\Hello\\AnotherFolder\\The File Name.PDF");
System.out.println(f.getName());

using String methods:

  File f = new File("C:\\Hello\\AnotherFolder\\The File Name.PDF");  
System.out.println(f.getAbsolutePath().substring(f.getAbsolutePath().lastIndexOf(File.separator)+1));

The return type is one of the differences here.

• File.getName() - String
• Path.getFileName() - Path

I assume you are talking about the String output each one returns(for example, when calling System.out on them); Regarding this, their logic is exactly the same: return the value that is located after the last found separator.

The only real difference I could think of is the output of each one if the given file location is empty/doesn't exist. While File.getName() would return a blank but initialized String, Path.getFilename() will return null.

For example, when trying to access a file from an empty location, this happens when calling System.out on them (note the blank line before null):

1. File.getName()

• blank String

2. Path.getFilename()

• null

EDIT:

Adding a useful comment by Alexander Guyer:

In addition to @aran's answer below, it's important to note that java.nio.file.Path as a whole is more idiomatic than java.io.File since Java SE 7. Oracle considers the latter to be "legacy" code, and they provide comments on how to transition java.io.File uses to java.nio.file.Path uses (docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/essential/io/legacy.html)