Elixir:
Creating a temporary file

How to:

In Elixir, you can create and use a temporary file with the System.tmp_dir/1 function and File module. Here’s a quick example:

# Let's roll up our sleeves and get to it!

# Find the temp directory
temp_dir = System.tmp_dir!()

# Create a temp file path
temp_file_path = Path.join(temp_dir, "my_temp_file.txt")

# Let's write something temporary
File.write!(temp_file_path, "Hello, temporary world!")

# Read it, just to make sure it's all good
IO.puts(File.read!(temp_file_path))

# Clean up after ourselves and delete the temp file
File.rm!(temp_file_path)

Sample Output:

Hello, temporary world!

Deep Dive

Temporary files aren’t unique to Elixir. They’re a staple across programming languages because they’re perfect for handling data that only matters during a program’s execution. Before storage became cheap, sparing disk space was crucial—temp files helped with that. Today, they’re handy for managing resources and security: less permanent data means fewer traces left behind.

As for alternatives, in Elixir, you could roll your own temp file logic or use Erlang functions directly (e.g., :erlang.mktemp/0). And for details, when you make a temp file, the details—like naming—are handled by your OS, not Elixir itself. Elixir just asks the OS where to stash the file temporarily, and the OS responds.

See Also

For more Elixir file manipulations:

• Elixir’s File module: https://hexdocs.pm/elixir/File.html
• Official docs for System.tmp_dir/1: https://hexdocs.pm/elixir/System.html#tmp_dir/1

Exploring Erlang’s file management capabilities:

• Erlang’s file module: http://erlang.org/doc/man/file.html