# getTempFile

Creates a temporary file in the specified directory with the specified prefix and suffix if passed.

## Method Signature

```
getTempFile(directory=[string], prefix=[string], suffix=[string])
```

### Arguments

| Argument    | Type     | Required | Description                                                                                            | Default                                             |
| ----------- | -------- | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------- |
| `directory` | `string` | `false`  | The directory in which to create the temp file, we default to the system temp directory                | `/var/folders/qr/xsqq4bd544x8qdm9s8ngwtdh0000gn/T/` |
| `prefix`    | `string` | `false`  | The prefix string to be used in generating the file's name; may be empty                               |                                                     |
| `suffix`    | `string` | `false`  | The suffix string to be used in generating the file's name; may be empty, in which case ".tmp" is used |                                                     |

## Examples

## Related

* [ContractPath](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/contractpath.md)
* [CreateTempDirectory](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/createtempdirectory.md)
* [CreateTempFile](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/createtempfile.md)
* [DirectoryCopy](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/directorycopy.md)
* [DirectoryCreate](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/directorycreate.md)
* [DirectoryDelete](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/directorydelete.md)
* [DirectoryExists](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/directoryexists.md)
* [DirectoryList](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/directorylist.md)
* [DirectoryMove](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/directorymove.md)
* [DirectoryRename](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/directoryrename.md)
* [ExpandPath](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/expandpath.md)
* [FileAppend](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/fileappend.md)
* [FileClose](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/fileclose.md)
* [FileCopy](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/filecopy.md)
* [FileDelete](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/filedelete.md)
* [FileExists](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/fileexists.md)
* [FileGetMimeType](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/filegetmimetype.md)
* [FileInfo](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/fileinfo.md)
* [FileIsEOF](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/fileiseof.md)
* [FileMove](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/filemove.md)
* [FileOpen](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/fileopen.md)
* [FileRead](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/fileread.md)
* [FileReadBinary](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/filereadbinary.md)
* [FileReadLine](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/filereadline.md)
* [FileSeek](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/fileseek.md)
* [FileSetAccessMode](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/filesetaccessmode.md)
* [FileSetAttribute](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/filesetattribute.md)
* [FileSetLastModified](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/filesetlastmodified.md)
* [FileSkipBytes](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/fileskipbytes.md)
* [FileWrite](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/filewrite.md)
* [FileWriteLine](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/filewriteline.md)
* [GetCanonicalPath](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/getcanonicalpath.md)
* [GetDirectoryFromPath](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/getdirectoryfrompath.md)
* [GetFileInfo](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/getfileinfo.md)
* [PropertyFile](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/propertyfile.md)


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://boxlang.ortusbooks.com/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/io/gettempfile.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
