new FileInfo(path).Name versus Path.GetFileName(path)

Question

which one is better to use and why? I mean in which aspects these two commands differ and how? Performance, readability, ...

new FileInfo(path).Name or

Answer 1

I'd suggest using Path.GetFilename() because it simply parses path and returns file name. On other hand FileInfo object will check if executed code has rights to access specified file which is relatively slow.

Answer 2

Performancewise Path.GetFilename() will outperform the other version as it is static. Your first version creates an object which has to be instantiated and garbage collected.

Readability: Path.GetFilename() clearly wins IMHO!

The way they figure out the name won't differ much I think.

Answer 3

Simply as you won't have to Create a new Object for using Path.GetFilename() it will perform better.

Here is a Comparison for both:

Code:

Path.GetFileName("G:\\u.png")

IL:

IL_0000:  ldstr       "G:\u.png"
IL_0005:  call        System.IO.Path.GetFileName

Code:

new FileInfo("G:\\u.png").Name

IL:

IL_0000:  ldstr       "G:\u.png"
IL_0005:  newobj      System.IO.FileInfo..ctor
IL_000A:  callvirt    System.IO.FileSystemInfo.get_Name