unlink vs remove in c++

Question

What is the difference between remove and unlink functions in C++?

Answer 1

The remove() function removes the file or directory specified by path.

If path specifies a directory, remove(path) is the equivalent of rmdir(path). Otherwise, it is the equivalent of unlink(path).

From: man remove.

Good Luck ;)

Answer 2

remove() is part of the C++ standard (N4860 29.11.14.30). unlink() is not.

Answer 3

unlink is not unix-specific, i don't know why people're saying that. see io.h. although you'll probably have to do something like

#define unlink _unlink

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/1c3tczd6%28v=VS.100%29.aspx

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/2da4hk1d%28v=VS.100%29.aspx

Answer 4

Apart from the fact that unlink is unix-specific (as pointed out by Chris), we read in the POSIX manual:

If path does not name a directory, remove(path) is equivalent to unlink(path). If path names a directory, remove(path) is equivalent to rmdir(path).

As for the directory-passed unlink, we read:

The path argument must not name a directory unless the process has appropriate privileges and the implementation supports using unlink() on directories. (...) Applications should use rmdir() to remove a directory.

Answer 5

remove is portable, and unlink is Unix-specific. :-P