# std::basic_ifstream<CharT,Traits>::is_open

From cppreference.com
< cpp‎ | io‎ | basic ifstream

bool is_open() const; |  |

Checks if the file stream has an associated file.

Effectively calls `rdbuf()->is_open()`.

### Parameters

(none)

### Return value

true if the file stream has an associated file, false otherwise.

### Example

Run this code

    #include <string>
    #include <fstream>
    #include <iostream>

    // this file is called main.cpp

    bool file_exists(const std::string& str)
    {
        std::ifstream fs(str);
        return fs.is_open();
    }

    int main()
    {
        std::boolalpha(std::cout);
        std::cout << file_exists("main.cpp")  << '\n'
                  << file_exists("strange_file") << '\n';
    }

Possible output:

    true
    false

### Defect reports

The following behavior-changing defect reports were applied retroactively to previously published C++ standards.

DR | Applied to | Behavior as published | Correct behavior
--- | --- | --- | ---
LWG 365 | C++98 | `is_open` was not declared with const qualifier | declared with const qualifier

### See also

open | opens a file and associates it with the stream (public member function)
close | closes the associated file (public member function)

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