A Directory is a flat list of files. Files may be written once, when they are created. Once a file is created it may only be opened for read, or deleted. Random access is permitted both when reading and writing.

Java's i/o APIs not used directly, but rather all i/o is through this API. This permits things such as:

• implementation of RAM-based indices;
• implementation indices stored in a database, via JDBC;
• implementation of an index as a single file;

Directory locking is implemented by an instance of {@link LockFactory}, and can be changed for each Directory instance using {@link #setLockFactory}.

[SerializableAttribute]
public abstract class Directory : IDisposable

<SerializableAttribute> _
Public MustInherit Class Directory _
	Implements IDisposable

[SerializableAttribute]
public ref class Directory abstract : IDisposable