tempfile – Creates temporary files and directories

New in version 2.3.

Synopsis

  • The tempfile module creates temporary files and directories. mktemp command takes different parameters on various systems, this module helps to avoid troubles related to that. Files/directories created by module are accessible only by creator. In case you need to make them world-accessible you need to use file module.
  • For Windows targets, use the win_tempfile module instead.

Parameters

Parameter Choices/Defaults Comments
path
path
Location where temporary file or directory should be created.
If path is not specified, the default system temporary directory will be used.
prefix
string
Default:
"ansible."
Prefix of file/directory name created by module.
state
string
    Choices:
  • directory
  • file ←
Whether to create file or directory.
suffix
string
Default:
""
Suffix of file/directory name created by module.

See Also

See also

file – Manage files and file properties
The official documentation on the file module.
win_tempfile – Creates temporary files and directories
The official documentation on the win_tempfile module.

Examples

- name: create temporary build directory
  tempfile:
    state: directory
    suffix: build

- name: create temporary file
  tempfile:
    state: file
    suffix: temp
  register: tempfile_1

- name: use the registered var and the file module to remove the temporary file
  file:
    path: "{{ tempfile_1.path }}"
    state: absent
  when: tempfile_1.path is defined

Return Values

Common return values are documented here, the following are the fields unique to this module:

Key Returned Description
path
string
 success
Path to created file or directory

Sample:
/tmp/ansible.bMlvdk


Status

Authors

  • Krzysztof Magosa (@krzysztof-magosa)

Hint

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