The System.IO namespace contains classes for reading and writing data from streams and interacting with the filesystem. [Edit]

Remarks

The System.IO namespace contains classes for reading and writing binary data from streams, reading and writing character data from readers and writers, and interacting with the file system in a platform-independent manner.

The System.IO.Stream class is the abstract base class of all streams, which provide a common mechanism for reading and writing binary data. System.IO.Streams support sequential reading or writing or both, and can also support random access. System.IO.Streams can be used synchronously and asynchronously.

There are three standard System.IO.Stream implementations. The System.IO.FileStream class provides stream access to a file on the local file system. The System.IO.MemoryStream class provides stream access to a byte array in memory. The System.IO.BufferedStream wraps another stream, providing buffered access to the underlying data, which can be used to improve performance. The System.IO.BinaryReader and System.IO.BinaryWriter classes provide convenience functions for reading and writing primitive types to and from steams.

System.IO.TextReader provides a sequential stream of characters or strings, and System.IO.TextWriter is a target for writing a sequential stream of chacters or strings. The System.IO.StreamReader and System.IO.StreamWriter classes provide character-based access to a System.IO.Stream using a specified encoding. The System.IO.StringReader provides a reader for the character data in a string, and the System.IO.StringWriter provides a writer to System.Text.StringBuffers.

The remaining classes provide access to the local file system. The System.IO.Directory and System.IO.File classes contain static methods for manipulating directories and files, respectively. System.IO.DirectoryInfo and System.IO.FileInfo objects actually represent files and folders on the file system (actually paths to files and folders which may or may not exist). They contain instance methods similar to System.IO.Directory and System.IO.File. The System.IO.Path class contains static methods for manipulating paths on the local file system in a platform-independent manner.

[Edit]

Classes

Type	Reason
BinaryReader	A simple class to do some limited binary I/O.
BinaryWriter	Limited binary writer.
BufferedStream	Provides a wrapper layer around an existing stream to enhance read/write performance.
Directory	Provides information and performs operations on directories.
DirectoryInfo	Represents information about a directory in the filesystem.
DirectoryNotFoundException	Represents the error that occurs when part of a file or directory argument cannot be found.
DriveInfo	Documentation for this section has not yet been entered.
DriveNotFoundException	Documentation for this section has not yet been entered.
EndOfStreamException	Represents the error that occurs when an attempt is made to read past the end of a stream.
ErrorEventArgs	Documentation for this section has not yet been entered.
File	Provides information and performs operations on files .
FileInfo	Documentation for this section has not yet been entered.
FileLoadException	Represents the error that occurs when a System.Reflection.Assembly file is found but cannot be loaded.
FileNotFoundException	Represents the error that occurs when a file path argument specifies a file that does not exist.
FileStream	Exposes a System.IO.Stream around a file, supporting both synchronous and asynchronous read and write operations.
FileSystemEventArgs	Documentation for this section has not yet been entered.
FileSystemInfo	Documentation for this section has not yet been entered.
FileSystemWatcher	Monitors File System's changes in directories, files and files inside directories.
InternalBufferOverflowException	Documentation for this section has not yet been entered.
InvalidDataException	Documentation for this section has not yet been entered.
IODescriptionAttribute	Documentation for this section has not yet been entered.
IOException	Represents the error that occurs when an I/O operation fails.
MemoryStream	Provides support for creating and using a stream whose backing store is memory.
Path	Performs operations on string instances that contain file or directory path information.
PathTooLongException	Represents the error that occurs when a directory or file name is longer than the system-defined maximum length.
RenamedEventArgs	Documentation for this section has not yet been entered.
Stream	Abstract base class for all stream implementations.
StreamReader	Implements a System.IO.Stream that reads characters from a byte stream in a particular encoding.
StreamWriter	Implements a System.IO.Stream wrapper that writes characters to a stream in a particular encoding.
StringReader	Implements a System.IO.TextReader that reads from a string.
StringWriter	Implements a System.IO.TextWriter that writes information to a string.
TextReader	Represents an object that can read a sequential series of characters.
TextWriter	Represents a writer that can write a sequential series of characters.
UnmanagedMemoryStream	Documentation for this section has not yet been entered.

Structs

Type	Reason
WaitForChangedResult	Documentation for this section has not yet been entered.

Delegates

Type	Reason
ErrorEventHandler	Documentation for this section has not yet been entered.
FileSystemEventHandler	Documentation for this section has not yet been entered.
RenamedEventHandler	Documentation for this section has not yet been entered.

Enumerations

Type	Reason
DriveType	Documentation for this section has not yet been entered.
FileAccess	Defines constants used to specify the level of file access being requested.
FileAttributes	Documentation for this section has not yet been entered.
FileMode	Specifies how the operating system opens a file.
FileOptions	Documentation for this section has not yet been entered.
FileShare	Specifies the level of access permitted for a file that is already in use.
NotifyFilters	Documentation for this section has not yet been entered.
SearchOption	Documentation for this section has not yet been entered.
SeekOrigin	Defines the seek reference positions.
WatcherChangeTypes	Documentation for this section has not yet been entered.