Log4j, meaning of Append = true / false

Question

log4j.appender.LOGFILE.Append = true

The doc says:

If the append parameter is true, the file will be appended to. Otherwise, the file designated by filename will be truncated before being opened.

Does it mean that if Append = true, new logs will be appended to the tail of the file? Then what does "truncated" indicate? Content will be deleted before the file being opened?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Yes, "the file designated by filename will be truncated" means that any data that previously existed in the file will be gone. This is a more general concept than just logging.

Suppose you have a file initially containing the data "AB":

• If you open it to append the value "C", the file will end up containing "ABC".

• If you open it to truncate and then write "C", the file will end up containing "C".

• If you open it to overwrite without truncating, the file will end up containing "CB". (This is rarely a useful option.)